Gem Profile- Quartz with Inclusions Part 1
We have already learned that the microscopic inclusion of certain minerals is actually responsible for the color of a macrocrystalline quartz, such as: iron/amethyst, iron oxide/citrine and both iron forms in ametrine; aluminum, calcium, lithium or magnesium/smoky quartz; iron, manganese, or titanium/rose quartz; chromium mica/aventurine, and crocidolite with iron/tiger eye, tiger iron, and Pietersite; but what about "visible" inclusions?
"Garden Quartz," rutilated quartz, and "Super Seven," no matter the marketing name, wire jewelry designers love working with included quartz.
These stones are prized for the natural minerals trapped inside macrocrystalline quartz.
This eighth article in my quartz series explores some of the most popular inclusions commonly found in these stones.
You will learn which minerals appear most often in cabochons and readily available materials.
The range of minerals that can be trapped in quartz is extensive.
For that reason, this article focuses only on the inclusions most frequently seen in jewelry-grade stones.
This 402ct example of a faceted rutilated quartz stone was made into a pendant by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong.
These stones are prized for the natural minerals trapped inside macrocrystalline quartz.
This eighth article in my quartz series explores some of the most popular inclusions commonly found in these stones.
You will learn which minerals appear most often in cabochons and readily available materials.
The range of minerals that can be trapped in quartz is extensive.
For that reason, this article focuses only on the inclusions most frequently seen in jewelry-grade stones.
This 402ct example of a faceted rutilated quartz stone was made into a pendant by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong.
There are three main ways that more than 45 different mineral crystals can become included in translucent to semi-translucent quartz.
These processes explain how such a wide variety of inclusions are formed within quartz crystals.
One way occurs when mineral crystals form first, and silica or quartz later fills in and solidifies around the original material.
This creates the appearance of minerals suspended inside the quartz.
Another possibility is when two or more minerals form in the same space at the same time as the silica or quartz.
This shared growth process allows multiple minerals to develop together.
The third way happens when geological conditions shift while the quartz or silica is forming. In this case, another mineral enters the same area and takes over part of the crystal structure.
Examples of windowed smoky and rough water clear, rutilated quartz. Notice the rutile crystal structure at the base of the clear quartz, meaning that these crystals probably formed before the quartz enveloped them.
These processes explain how such a wide variety of inclusions are formed within quartz crystals.
One way occurs when mineral crystals form first, and silica or quartz later fills in and solidifies around the original material.
This creates the appearance of minerals suspended inside the quartz.
Another possibility is when two or more minerals form in the same space at the same time as the silica or quartz.
This shared growth process allows multiple minerals to develop together.
The third way happens when geological conditions shift while the quartz or silica is forming. In this case, another mineral enters the same area and takes over part of the crystal structure.
Examples of windowed smoky and rough water clear, rutilated quartz. Notice the rutile crystal structure at the base of the clear quartz, meaning that these crystals probably formed before the quartz enveloped them.
Rockhounds and lapidaries often use the term "sagenite," or sagenitic quartz, to describe included macrocrystalline quartz. This label is especially common for specimens that contain rutile crystals. Rutilated quartz is the most well-known and easiest type to identify.
Rutilated quartz forms when clear to semi-clear quartz contains slender needles of titanium dioxide crystals.
These rutile needles may appear as open fans or radiating clusters, known as acicular.
They can also resemble fine strands of hair suspended in space.
Pure titanium dioxide is a familiar pigment used to create bright white paint. In nature, trace minerals alter its appearance, causing rutile crystals to appear silver, red, reddish-brown, gold, or yellow. These color variations add to the stone's visual appeal.
When rutile crystals are more concentrated at the base of a quartz crystal than at the tip, the rutile likely formed first.
Quartz then filled in around the needles, preserving their original structure. This growth pattern helps explain the placement of the inclusions.
Faceted stones or cabochons that display rutile crystals in a star-like formation are rare and highly prized.
Rutilated quartz is also known as Venus Hair Stone, Hair Stone, or Needle Stone. Today, most rutilated quartz is mined in Brazil and South Africa.
Pictured: Although not a perfect example, this faceted rutilated quartz shows a "star" formation and Dale's personal collection of beautiful, rutilated quartz stones in many colors and Gold rutilated quartz made into a classic cabochon ring design by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong.
Rutilated quartz forms when clear to semi-clear quartz contains slender needles of titanium dioxide crystals.
These rutile needles may appear as open fans or radiating clusters, known as acicular.
They can also resemble fine strands of hair suspended in space.
Pure titanium dioxide is a familiar pigment used to create bright white paint. In nature, trace minerals alter its appearance, causing rutile crystals to appear silver, red, reddish-brown, gold, or yellow. These color variations add to the stone's visual appeal.
When rutile crystals are more concentrated at the base of a quartz crystal than at the tip, the rutile likely formed first.
Quartz then filled in around the needles, preserving their original structure. This growth pattern helps explain the placement of the inclusions.
Faceted stones or cabochons that display rutile crystals in a star-like formation are rare and highly prized.
Rutilated quartz is also known as Venus Hair Stone, Hair Stone, or Needle Stone. Today, most rutilated quartz is mined in Brazil and South Africa.
Pictured: Although not a perfect example, this faceted rutilated quartz shows a "star" formation and Dale's personal collection of beautiful, rutilated quartz stones in many colors and Gold rutilated quartz made into a classic cabochon ring design by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong.
Other inclusions that can resemble titanium dioxide rutiles include epidote and actinolite. While epidote occurs in colors ranging from nearly black to brown and gray, it is best known for long, thin crystal blades in bright to dark green.
These blade-like inclusions are often mistaken for rutile.
Like rutiles, epidote crystals can form in fan shapes or appear as individual strands.
Because of this appearance, quartz containing epidote is often marketed as "Grass Quartz." But is that label always accurate?
Actinolite, also known as Thetis Hair or Byssolite, forms in similar ways.
The name actinolite means beam or ray, describing its fibrous structure. This mineral can appear as long, thin crystals embedded within quartz.
A type of asbestos, fibrous actinolite occurs in white, gray, black, and various shades of green.
These grassy tones can closely resemble epidote inclusions. As a result, many vendors may label any green, blade-like or needle-like inclusion as "Grass Quartz."
A "Grass Quartz" cabochon.
Are the included crystals epidote?
These blade-like inclusions are often mistaken for rutile.
Like rutiles, epidote crystals can form in fan shapes or appear as individual strands.
Because of this appearance, quartz containing epidote is often marketed as "Grass Quartz." But is that label always accurate?
Actinolite, also known as Thetis Hair or Byssolite, forms in similar ways.
The name actinolite means beam or ray, describing its fibrous structure. This mineral can appear as long, thin crystals embedded within quartz.
A type of asbestos, fibrous actinolite occurs in white, gray, black, and various shades of green.
These grassy tones can closely resemble epidote inclusions. As a result, many vendors may label any green, blade-like or needle-like inclusion as "Grass Quartz."
A "Grass Quartz" cabochon.
Are the included crystals epidote?
There are even more minerals that can be included in what you may think is "just" rutilated quartz! Along with gold, silver, mercury and pyrite, these include, but are not limited to:
Brookite - a form of titanium dioxide that can appear in quartz as red plates or blades
Anatase - rutile-like needles of black, honey yellow, brown, occasionally orange or blue, also a form of titanium dioxide
Goethite - brown to yellow splinter-like crystals, or wispy fibers
Hematite - crystals can be blade-like through cubes and plates, opaque reddish brown through bluish black
While I was going through my stock of included quartz looking for specimens to photograph, I came across a very pretty stone that I had not had the chance to identify yet. Research for this article leads me to believe that the red platy inclusions are either hematite, or lepidocrosite (see photo below).
While I was going through my stock of included quartz looking for specimens to photograph, I came across a very pretty stone that I had not had the chance to identify yet. Research for this article leads me to believe that the red platy inclusions are either hematite, or lepidocrosite (see photo below).
While reading about this form of iron oxide, I was reminded of another striking stone that contains lepidocrosite along with six other materials. It is commonly marketed as "Super Seven," "Super 7," or "Sacred Seven."
These names refer to a quartz variety prized for its multiple inclusions.
I need to share my personal story about this particular material.
In the mid-1990s, my stone dealer returned from his annual buying trip to South America with a small selection of affordable faceted stones.
They appeared to be tri-color quartz, amethyst, clear, and smoky, with hematite and rutile inclusions.
Together, we decided to call this material "rutilated amethyst."
These names refer to a quartz variety prized for its multiple inclusions.
I need to share my personal story about this particular material.
In the mid-1990s, my stone dealer returned from his annual buying trip to South America with a small selection of affordable faceted stones.
They appeared to be tri-color quartz, amethyst, clear, and smoky, with hematite and rutile inclusions.
Together, we decided to call this material "rutilated amethyst."
hree years ago, in 2009, while shopping at the Tucson gem shows, I encountered the same stone being sold at a much higher price under the name "Super Seven." It was striking to see a familiar material reintroduced with a new label and significant markup.
The name "seven" refers to the minerals that may be present in the stone. These include lepidocrosite, clear quartz, smoky quartz, amethyst, cacoxenite, goethite, and hematite. Not every stone contains all seven materials.
Metaphysically, it is believed that each stone carries the properties of all possible inclusions. This belief exists because the stone is thought to have formed near all of the potential components, even if they are not visibly present.
Thanks to the Internet, I later learned that the well-known metaphysical author Melody trademarked the name "SUPER SEVEN" under the classification of stones. The material is also commonly referred to as "Melody's Stone."
Amazing.
Additional "Super Seven" stones in my collection.
The name "seven" refers to the minerals that may be present in the stone. These include lepidocrosite, clear quartz, smoky quartz, amethyst, cacoxenite, goethite, and hematite. Not every stone contains all seven materials.
Metaphysically, it is believed that each stone carries the properties of all possible inclusions. This belief exists because the stone is thought to have formed near all of the potential components, even if they are not visibly present.
Thanks to the Internet, I later learned that the well-known metaphysical author Melody trademarked the name "SUPER SEVEN" under the classification of stones. The material is also commonly referred to as "Melody's Stone."
Amazing.
Additional "Super Seven" stones in my collection.
Resources
Print Resources:
Mineralogical Record, vol. 24, no.4. pp 311-313. "Solid Inclusions". W.A. Henderson Jr. & M.H. Weber (1993)
The Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN 0-395-24049-2
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9
Internet Resources:
www.mindat.org
www.minerals.net
www.wikipedia.org
Print Resources:
Mineralogical Record, vol. 24, no.4. pp 311-313. "Solid Inclusions". W.A. Henderson Jr. & M.H. Weber (1993)
The Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN 0-395-24049-2
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9
Internet Resources:
www.mindat.org
www.minerals.net
www.wikipedia.org
Materials
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Dale Armstrong
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