mineral

Milky quartz with black tourmaline inclusions

Quartz (SiO₂), likely with schorl tourmaline (NaFe₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

White, translucent quartz with dark prismatic or fibrous inclusions; vitreous to greasy luster, uneven fracture, hardness about 7, and no cleavage. Tourmaline inclusions are typically black, while quartz is crystalline but appears massive here.

Identified September 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and granitic environments when quartz crystallized around earlier tourmaline. Such mineral assemblages range from Precambrian to relatively young Phanerozoic rocks.

Uses & applications

Used as a collector specimen, lapidary material, and occasionally in ornamental carvings; clear portions may be cut, though inclusions reduce gemstone clarity. Common pieces have modest commercial value.

Geological facts

This material is often marketed as “tourmalinated quartz.” The dark inclusions can produce attractive needle-like patterns and may be confused with hornblende or biotite.

Field identification & locations

Common in Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Identify it by quartz’s glassy appearance and scratch resistance, combined with black tourmaline’s elongated inclusions and lack of obvious mica sheets.