mineral

Tourmalinated Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (Quartz) with Tourmaline inclusions (SiO2 + Na(Fe,Mg,Al,Li)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness of 7 for the quartz host and 7 to 7.5 for tourmaline; color is primarily white or clear with contrasting black needle-like or prismatic tourmaline inclusions; vitreous luster; hexagonal crystal system; conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity around 2.65.

Identified August 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes deep within the Earth's crust where aqueous solutions rich in silica and boron cool and crystallize over millions of years, often in pegmatite pockets.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, metaphysical practices, and as collector specimens.

Geological facts

Tourmalinated quartz is prized by collectors for the striking visual contrast between the clear or milky quartz and the dark, needle-like tourmaline crystals trapped inside during growth.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified visually by the distinct black inclusions embedded within a translucent to opaque white quartz matrix. Found globally, with notable deposits in Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and Pakistan.