Quartz

Big Photo

Chrysoprase
India
6.86 carats
© gemselect.com

Quartz (named after a Slavic word for "hard") is the most common mineral found on the surface of the Earth. A significant component of many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, this natural form of silicon dioxide is found in an impressive range of varieties and colours.
1089 photos

Quartz Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quartz Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Quartz gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.17 cts
Heaviest:990 cts
Average:24.27 cts
Total photos:1055
Do you have a larger Quartz? Why not upload a photo?
0.17ct to 99.15ct99.15ct to 198.14ct198.14ct to 297.12ct297.12ct to 396.10ct396.10ct to 495.09ct495.09ct to 594.07ct594.07ct to 693.05ct693.05ct to 792.03ct792.03ct to 891.02ct891.02ct to 990.00ct
General Information
Varieties/Types:
Amethyst - A purple variety of Quartz.
Ametrine - A mixture of Amethyst and Citrine in the same crystal.
Aqua Aura - Clear quartz artificially coated with thin layer of metal to turn it iridescent.
Azeztulite
Chalcedony - A cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz.
Agate - A banded variety of Chalcedony.
Iris Agate - An iridescent variety of Agate.
Onyx - A monochromatic Agate with black and white banding.
Sardonyx - A monochromatic Agate with red/brown and either black or white banding.
Binghamite - Chatoyant Chalcedony with fibres of hematite/goethite.
Bloodstone - A dark green/greenish-blue Chalcedony with small red blood-like spots.
Carnelian - A red to orange variety of Chalcedony.
Chrome-Chalcedony - Emerald green Chalcedony, colored by chromium.
Chrysocolla Chalcedony
Chrysoprase - A green Chalcedony coloured by inclusions of Ni minerals.
Dendritic Agate - A chalcedony containing contrasting branching, or dendritic, mineral inclusions.
Moss Agate - A translucent chalcedony containing green strands of chlorite.
Fire Agate - A variety of Agate containing iridescent spheroids of limonite.
Jasper - Jasper is a dense, opaque, microcrystalline variety of Chalcedony.
Dallasite - A variety of Jasper from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Orbicular Jasper - Jasper containing numerous spherical inclusions.
Myrickite
Petrified Wood - A decorative type of fossil wood where the original organic material has been replaced - usually by chalcedony, agate, opal, etc.
Pietersite - Chalcedony with embedded fibers of amphibole minerals, causing chatoyancy.
Sard - A brown to brownish-red translucent variety of Chalcedony.
Citrine - A yellow to yellow-orange or yellow-green variety of Quartz.
Iris Quartz - A quartz showing rainbow colours.
Merlinite - Drusy quartz over psilomelane.
Mystic Quartz - Clear cut quartz coated with thin layer of titanium on pavilion.
Prase - Prase is a leek-green variety of Quartz.
Prasiolite - A green variety of Quartz.
Quartzite
Aventurine - A variety of Quartz containing glistening fragments, usually of mica, but sometimes hematite, goethite or chlorite.
Rock Crystal - A transparent colourless variety of Quartz.
Rose Quartz - Pink variety of Quartz.
Rutilated Quartz - A clear Quartz shot through with golden needles of rutile.
Smoky Quartz - Smoky-grey, brown to black variety of Quartz.
Morion - Sometimes synonymous with Smoky quartz, but often reserved for nearly black Smoky quartz.
Strawberry Quartz
Tiger's Eye - Chatoyant yellowish-brown variety of Quartz.
Falcon's Eye
Titanium Quartz
Chemical Formula
SiO
 
2
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
More from other references
Synthetic Quartz
All colors, mostly amethyst, citrine, ametrine: colors are usually intense. Standard tests limited: needle-like 2 phase inclusions, dust-like "breadcrumb" planes, whitish wisps. In synthetic quartz, if present, twinning may create a distinctive lfame-like pattern or may be seen as very thin parallel lines showing interference colors with diagnostic striated appearance. Synthetic blue: Chelsea - red. - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 7
Synthetic quartz: mostly untwinned, rarely triangular sectors with interference colours, "bread crumbs", residues of the seed plate - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 9
Physical Properties of Quartz
Mohs Hardness7
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Specific Gravity2.65
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Cleavage QualityNone
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
FractureConchoidal
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
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Optical Properties of Quartz
Refractive Index1.544 to 1.553
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Optical CharacterUniaxial/+
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Birefringence0.009
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
PleochroismWeakly dichroic
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Dispersion0.013
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
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Colour
Colour (General)Brown, black, colourless, green, pink, violet, white, yellow, orange, purple
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Causes of ColourViolet to purple (amethyst), O2+→Fe4+ charge transfer, due to irradiation. Blue, inclusions of blue dumortierite or tourmaline. Green ("greened amethyst" or prasiolite, Fe2+. Green (aventurine quartz), chromian mica (fuchsite) inclusions. Greenish yellow, color center. Yellow to orange (citrine), O2-→Fe3+ charge transfer, various Al3+ related color centers. Smokey (smoky quartz), color center related to the Al3+ impunity. Pink (rose quartz), charge transfer between a substitutional Ti4+ and an interstitial Ti3+ unstable color center O- ion bridging between substitutional aluminum and substitutional phosphorus atom; dumortierite inclusions. White (milky quartz), scattering of light by inclusions larger than the visible wavelengths.
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
LustreVitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Shows no fluorescence
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Crystallography of Quartz
Crystal SystemTrigonal
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
HabitPrismatic
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Geological Environment
Where found:Quartz occurs in epithermal veins; it is a characteristic mineral of granites and granite pegmatites and is found in sandstones and quartzites. It occurs in hydrothermal metal deposits and in carbonate rocks where it is common.
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Spectrographic Data
Calculated Spectra:
Click spectra for more information
Chrysoprase - Locality: Unknown
Mystic Quartz - Locality: Unknown
Inclusions in Quartz
Inclusions: goethite, hematite, etc. liquid- and two-phase inclusions - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 9
Further Information
Mineral information:Quartz information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Austria
 
  • Styria
    • Bruck-Mürzzuschlag District
[Quartzite var: Aventurine] Max Bauer, Precious stones (1968)
Bolivia
 
  • Santa Cruz
    • Ángel Sandoval Province
      • La Gaiba mining district
[var: Amethyst] Laurs (2001, 2010)
[var: Amethyst] Laurs (2001, 2010)
[var: Amethyst] Laurs (2001, 2010)
    • Chiquitos Province
Collyer et al. (1994)
Brazil
 
  • Bahia
    • Caetité
[var: Amethyst] Couto (2000)
  • Minas Gerais
    • Conselheiro Pena
      • Ferruginha
[var: Citrine] Macri et al. (2006)
Macri et al. (2006)
      • Penha do Norte
    • Coronel Murta
Macri et al. (2006)
    • Galiléia
      • Sapucaia do Norte
[var: Rose Quartz] Wilson (1999)
  • Pará
    • Marabá
      • Garimpo das Pedras
[var: Amethyst]
  • Paraíba
    • Junco do Seridó
[var: Citrine] Kievlenko E.Ya., Geology of gems, 2003, p. 113
[Chalcedony var: Agate]
[var: Amethyst] Priester (1999)
[var: Amethyst] Rocks & Min.:5:131.
[var: Amethyst] Rocks & Min.: 5:131.
    • Passo Fundo
[var: Amethyst] Rocks & Min.:5:131.
[var: Amethyst] Balzer (1999)
[var: Amethyst]
  • Rondônia
    • Porto Velho
[var: Amethyst] R. Batista and D. Epstein (2000)
Cambodia
 
[var: Amethyst] Ngu and Ngoc (1986)
Ngu and Ngoc (1986)
Canada
 
  • Ontario
[var: Amethyst] Garland (2004)
      • McTavish Township
[var: Amethyst] Sinkankas (1997)
[var: Amethyst] Sinkankas (1997)
Czech Republic
 
  • Hradec Králové Region
    • Jičín District
      • Železnice
        • Doubravice
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] No reference listed
India
 
  • Karnataka
    • Ballari District
[Quartzite var: Aventurine] Max Bauer, Precious stones (1968)
[var: Amethyst] S. Fernandes (1999)
[var: Iris Quartz]
Kenya
 
  • Kitui County
[var: Amethyst] Henn and Milisenda (2001)
Madagascar
 
  • Alaotra-Mangoro
    • Ambatondrazaka District
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 46
    • Andilamena District
      • Andranotokana Massif
[var: Amethyst] Aurisicchio et al. (1999)
[var: Smoky Quartz] Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 46
  • Amoron'i Mania
    • Ambositra
[var: Rose Quartz] Pezzotta (1999)
  • Analamanga
    • Ankazobe District
      • Ambolotarakely
[var: Rose Quartz] Madagascar - extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 44
[var: Amethyst] Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 44
  • Atsimo-Atsinanana
[var: Citrine] Pezzotta (2001)
  • Betsiboka
    • Tsaratanàna District
      • Ambakireny
[var: Smoky Quartz] Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 43
  • Diana
[var: Amethyst] Pezzotta (1999)
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy District
      • Ilakaka
[var: Amethyst] Madagascar - extraLapis English No.1, p. 92
  • Sava
    • Andapa District
[var: Smoky Quartz] Danet (2009)
[var: Smoky Quartz]
    • Vohémar District
[var: Rose Quartz] Madagascar - extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 41
  • Sofia
    • Analalava District
      • Ambolobozo
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] mindat.org
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Betafo District
      • Mahaiza
[var: Rose Quartz] E.Ya. Kievlenko, Geology of gems, 2003, p. 112
    • Mandoto
      • Anjoma Ramartina
[var: Citrine] Danet (2009)
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 50
Mexico
 
  • Guerrero
    • Eduardo Neri Municipality
[var: Amethyst] Ontiveros et al. (2004)
[var: Amethyst] Ontiveros et al. (2004)
Morocco
 
  • Drâa-Tafilalet Region
    • Midelt Province
      • Midelt Cercle
        • Aït Oufella Caïdat
          • Mibladen
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] mindat.org
Mozambique
 
  • Zambezia Province
    • Gilé District
[var: Rose Quartz] Bettencourt-Dias and Wilson (2000)
    • Mulevala District
Bettencourt-Dias and Wilson (2000)
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
[var: Amethyst]
        • Bernardmyo
[var: Citrine] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
          • Pyaung Gaung
[Chalcedony var: Chrysoprase] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
[Chalcedony var: Chrysoprase] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Chaung-gyi
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kin (Guard Post)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyatpyin North
[var: Smoky Quartz] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyauk-Pyat-That
[var: Amethyst] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
[var: Rock Crystal] Kammerling et al. (1994)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
          • Yadanar-kaday-kadar
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Marble Ark
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Mogok Valley
          • Dattaw-taung (Dattaw hill)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
[var: Amethyst] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • On-dan
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
    • Yamethin District
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
  • Sagaing Region
    • Katha District
      • Wuntho Township
[var: Amethyst] Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Namibia
 
  • Erongo Region
    • Dâures Constituency
      • Brandberg Area
[var: Amethyst]
  • Otjozondjupa Region
    • Otavi Constituency
      • Platveld area
        • Burgerhof Farm 482
[var: Amethyst] Michelou (2006)
Netherlands
 
  • Gelderland
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] mindat.org
Nigeria
 
  • Taraba
[var: Amethyst] Laurs and Koivula (2003)
Peru
 
  • Ancash
    • Casma Province
[var: Amethyst]
    • Pallasca Province
      • Pampas District
  • Arequipa
    • Caravelí Province
[Chalcedony var: Chrysocolla Chalcedony]
  • Huancavelica
    • Castrovirreyna Province
    • Huancavelica Province
      • Ascencion District
        • Yauricocha Parish
[Chalcedony var: Agate]
  • Huánuco
    • Huamalíes Province
[Chalcedony var: Jasper]
  • Ica
    • Pisco Province
      • Humay District
  • Junín
    • Yauli Province
      • Morococha District
  • La Libertad
    • Sánchez Carrión Province
      • Huamachuco
        • Mundo Nuevo
  • Lima
    • Cañete Province
[Chalcedony var: Jasper]
  • Pasco
    • Pasco province
      • Huayllay district
        • Huarón mining district
  • Puno
[Chalcedony var: Jasper]
Poland
 
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
    • Ząbkowice Śląskie County
[Chalcedony var: Chrysoprase] Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann (2001)
Portugal
 
  • Beja
    • Mértola
      • Alcaria Ruiva
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] mindat.org
Russia
 
  • Chelyabinsk Oblast
[var: Amethyst]
  • Irkutsk Oblast
    • Nizhneilimsky District
      • Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky
Smith and Smith (1995)
  • Magadan Oblast
    • Severo-Evensky District
[var: Amethyst] P. Lyckberg (2009)
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Tersky District
[var: Amethyst] V. Bukanov (1999)
  • Orenburg Oblast
    • Orsk
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] Занимательная минералогия, Ферсман А., 1953, стр. 50
  • Sakha
[var: Amethyst] V. Bukanov (1999)
South Korea
 
  • South Gyeongsang Province
[var: Amethyst] Yang et al. (2001)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
[Chalcedony var: Carnelian]
[var: Amethyst]
Tanzania
 
  • Morogoro Region
    • Kilosa District
Dirlam et al. (1992)
UK
 
  • Scotland
    • Angus
      • Montrose
        • Usan
[Chalcedony var: Agate] [Specimen in the Natural History Museum, London]
    • Highland
[var: Smoky Quartz] No reference listed
Ukraine
 
  • Zhytomyr Oblast
    • Zhytomyr Raion
Smith and Smith (1995)
Uruguay
 
  • Artigas Department
[var: Amethyst] Gilg et al. (2003)
[var: Amethyst] mindat.org
USA
 
  • Arizona
    • Maricopa County
      • Four Peaks
[var: Amethyst] Lowell and Koivula (2004)
    • Navajo County
[Chalcedony var: Petrified Wood] Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p.148
      • Petrified Forest Mining District
[Chalcedony var: Petrified Wood]
  • California
    • Imperial County
      • Boulder Park
[Chalcedony] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Inyo County
      • Amargosa Range
        • Black Mountains
          • Jubilee Pass
[Chalcedony var: Jasper] Symons, Henry Heilbronner (1940), Quartz gem stones of California: Rocks & Minerals: 15: 41; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 317.
    • Kern County
[Chalcedony var: Petrified Wood]
    • San Diego County
      • San Ysidro Mountains
        • Dulzura
          • Southeast of Dulzura
[Chalcedony] Kunz, George Frederick (1906), Precious stones: Mineral Resources U.S., 1905: 1323-1358; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318.
      • Warner Springs Mining District
        • Warner Springs
[var: Smoky Quartz]
    • Santa Clara County
      • bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east
        • Paradise Valley
[Jasper var: Orbicular Jasper] Melhase, John (1934), A diversity of many fine minerals available in California for collectors: Oregon Mineralogist: 2(7): 7; Mineralogist, The (1935): 3(3): 34; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318; www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/jasper.htm
    • Siskiyou County
      • Bogus Mountain
[Chalcedony var: Bloodstone] Symons, Henry Heilbronner (1940), Quartz gem stones of California: Rocks & Minerals: 15: 41; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318.
      • Klamath Mountains
        • Cinnabar Camp
[Chalcedony var: Agate] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Tulare County
      • Ivanhoe
        • Venice Hills
[Chalcedony var: Chrysoprase] Tucker, W. Burling (1919), El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Tehama, and Tulare Counties: California Mining Bureau. Report 15: 911; MacFall (1951), Gem Hunter's Guide, 1st ed.; Goodwin, Joseph Grant (1958), Mines and mineral resources of Tulare County, California: California Journal of Mines and Geology (Report 54): 54(3): 344; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 350, 424.
      • Tennessee Knob
[Chalcedony var: Chrysoprase] Kunz, George Frederick (1899), Precious stones: Mineral Resources U.S., 1898: 589; Tucker, W. Burling (1919), Tulare Counties: California Mining Bureau. Report 15: 911; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 318.
  • Georgia
    • Wilkes County
      • Jacksons Crossroads
[var: Amethyst] Laurs (2005)
  • Minnesota
    • Crow Wing County
[Chalcedony var: Binghamite] Gemstones of the world, W. Schumann, 2001, p. 204
  • Montana
    • Lewis and Clark County
      • East Helena
        • Eldorado Bar
[Chalcedony] E.Ya. Kievlenko (2003) Geology of gems, p. 70
  • Nevada
    • Humboldt County
[Chalcedony var: Petrified Wood] Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p.148
  • North Carolina
    • Cleveland County
      • Shelby
  • Utah
    • Iron County
[Chalcedony] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Juab County
      • Thomas Range
        • Topaz Mountain
[Chalcedony var: Agate] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
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