Specimen at a glance
| Mineral | Quartz (var. milky) |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | SiO2 |
| Mohs hardness | 7 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Locality | New Hampshire |
| Form | Crystal cluster |
| You receive | The exact specimen pictured |
About this specimen
This cluster of milky (white) quartz crystals comes from New Hampshire, a state whose granite pegmatites and quartz veins have been a steady source of collector-grade quartz for well over a century. The milky, opaque-white color comes from countless microscopic fluid and gas inclusions trapped between tiny growth fibers within the crystal — the same feature that gives milky quartz its soft, cloudy glow rather than the water-clarity of pure rock crystal.
Look closely at the individual points and you can pick out faint ghost-like outlines within the crystal faces — these are phantoms, growth-stage markers left behind when a thin film of mineral dust or fluid settled on the crystal’s surface before growth resumed and sealed it inside. Each phantom is essentially a fossilized record of a pause in the crystal’s growth, making every phantom quartz specimen a small timeline of its own formation.
Quartz is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so this piece is quite durable for handling and display, though the delicate druzy points at the crystal tips can chip if knocked against hard surfaces. Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth; avoid ultrasonic cleaners, which can stress fractures along inclusion planes.
Inside the Quartz Crystal
One mineral species, a thousand looks — quartz is the shape-shifter of the mineral world.
The story: Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s crust, and it crystallizes in nearly every rock-forming environment on the planet — which is exactly why it shows up in this shop as clear points, milky clusters, smoky towers, ghostly phantoms, and druzy-crusted matrix, all built from the same simple formula.
Why collectors chase it: Because one species covers this much ground: a single collection can hold a dozen genuinely different-looking quartz pieces without ever repeating a mineral. Phantom growth lines, smoky color zoning, and druzy crusts each record a different chapter of how that particular crystal grew.
Care: Quartz shrugs off scratches and most chemicals at Mohs 7, but avoid sudden temperature swings (a hot dishwasher after a cold shelf can crack a large piece) and clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Milky quartz: the science
- The white color is not a pigment. It is light scattering off countless microscopic fluid bubbles, the same way foam looks white.
- Phantoms are ghost outlines of an earlier crystal, preserved when growth paused and a thin film of inclusions settled on the old faces.
- New Hampshire’s granite and pegmatite belts are among the classic quartz-collecting regions of New England.
Go deeper
Want the full story on milky quartz: how it forms, how to identify it, and what makes a great specimen?
Questions about this piece
What is milky quartz?
Milky quartz is quartz clouded white by millions of microscopic fluid inclusions, tiny bubbles of liquid and gas trapped as the crystal grew.
Where was it found?
This piece comes from New Hampshire. We list a locality whenever it is known, because where a mineral formed is part of its story and its value.
How hard is it, and how should I care for it?
It rates 7 on the Mohs scale. Mohs 7 and durable. Rinse in lukewarm water with a soft brush to remove dust and air dry.
Is this the exact piece I will receive?
Yes. This listing was photographed individually, and you receive the exact piece shown in the photos.
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