mineral
Dyed Crackle Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with artificial dye
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Purple/lavender concentrated in internal fractures; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Spherical polish with visible spider-web surface fissures; Specific Gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- Purple/lavender concentrated in internal fractures
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Purple/lavender concentrated in internal fractures; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Spherical polish with visible spider-web surface fissures; Specific Gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Natural clear quartz is subjected to thermal shock (heating and rapid cooling) to create internal fractures, then submerged in dye which seeps into the cracks through capillary action.
Uses & applications
Decorative use, costume jewelry beads, metaphysical/healing practices, and educational samples for identifying treated minerals.
Geological facts
The 'crackle' effect is a form of intentional quench-crackling. While the base material is natural quartz, the color is entirely artificial and can sometimes fade if exposed to sunlight or chemicals.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for 'bleeding' of color into cracks or concentration of pigment in fractures rather than a solid crystal body. This appearance does not occur naturally in quartz.
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