Quartz with Tourmaline Inclusions (Tourmalinated Quartz)

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale) for quartz, color: clear to milky white with black needle-like inclusions, luster: vitreous, crystal structure: trigonal.

Formation & Geological History

Formed in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins where quartz and tourmaline crystallize together.

Uses & Applications

Used in inexpensive jewelry, ornamental carvings, and by collectors.

Geological Facts

The black needles are usually schorl, a type of tourmaline.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by the presence of dark, needle-like crystals embedded within a harder, often transparent or translucent quartz matrix.

Identified on: 4/26/2026

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