The facts
What milky Quartz actually is
The species behind milky Quartz is quartz, SiO₂; it forms in the trigonal system.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity of about 2.65, with none cleavage.
Where milky Quartz comes from
Commercial material comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA and Madagascar.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How milky Quartz is treated
Untreated. Used mainly as carving and interior stone; abundant and low value.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What milky Quartz is confused with
Watch for White chalcedony, Marble and White glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What milky Quartz is used for
The trades that buy milky Quartz are carving and sculpture, architecture and interiors, decorative objects, mineral collecting and heavy industry. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the square metre or by the piece.
Durability and care
Milky Quartz is 7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What milky Quartz costs
Expect roughly $0.10–2/g rough, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is milky Quartz treated, and how?
Untreated. Used mainly as carving and interior stone; abundant and low value.
Where does milky Quartz come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is milky Quartz hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does milky Quartz cost?
Indicatively $0.10–2/g rough. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is milky Quartz confused with?
Most often White chalcedony, Marble and White glass. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
What is milky Quartz used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, architecture and interiors, decorative objects, mineral collecting and heavy industry. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for milky quartz?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about milky quartz