The milky quartz may have formed at an early stage of the crystal's growth and a later stage of clear quartz growth covered the milky quartz. The effect results in seemingly a crystal within a crystal and the interior crystal may have a ghostly look, hence the name phantom . The milky quartz-amethyst phantom combination results in an ornamental stone called chevron amethyst . The bands of amethyst and milky quartz make thin well defined chevrons of purple and white that are attractive as polished stones and in ornamental carvings. A Quartz Phantom Milky quartz is occasionally associated with gold in hydrothermal veins.
Prospectors searching for gold laden ore, look for outcrops of milky white quartz veins.
Many of the most beautiful gold specimens are the ones that have the lacy gold extruding from the pure white milky quartz. Milky quartz is only one of several different quartz varieties. Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety. Citrine is a yellow to orange gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is often created by heating Amethyst. Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.