mineral

Aura Quartz

Titanium-coated Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 Mohs scale; Color: Iridescent rainbow colors (blue, purple, green); Luster: Vitreous/Metallic; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 Mohs scale
Color: Iridescent rainbow colors (blue, purple, green)
Luster: Vitreous/Metallic

Identified May 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

The base is natural quartz formed in igneous or hydrothermal environments. The metallic finish is man-made via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process where crystals are heated in a vacuum and bonded with vaporized titanium or gold.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry, decorative items, and metaphysical/new age collecting. Not used in heavy industry due to the artificial coating.

Geological facts

While the iridescent coating is artificial, the underlying crystal is genuine quartz. The process was first developed to create optical coatings for lenses and scientific equipment before being applied to gemstones.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the extreme rainbow iridescence that looks like oil on water or gasoline. In a field setting, you will only find plain quartz; the 'Aura' finish is strictly a laboratory modification. Found worldwide in quartz deposits, then processed in labs.