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 incorrectMohs 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.
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Physical properties
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.
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.
