Although quartz is known to host a diverse assortment of mineral inclusions, well-formed bladed kyanite inclusions in quartz are rarely observed. At first glance, the 7.83 ct blue-colored stone in the figure above appeared to contain dumortierite, but further inspection revealed distinct bladed blue crystals that deviated from the expected prismatic morphology of dumortierite.
Raman spectroscopy identified several minerals including quartz, kyanite, and some iron sulfides. Kyanite, an aluminum silicate mineral typically associated with metamorphic rocks, provided the stone’s light blue color. Opaque metallic hexagonal sulfide crystals were scattered throughout the host. Occasional reddish orange crystals, located too deep within the stone for identification with Raman, were likely mica given the mineral association and structure.
These eye-visible inclusions come together to form a brightly colored quartz with a slight shimmer and unique character.
Jeffrey Hernandez is a staff gemologist at GIA in Carlsbad, California.
Although quartz is known to host a diverse assortment of mineral inclusions, well-formed bladed kyanite inclusions in quartz are rarely observed. At first glance, the 7.83 ct blue-colored stone in the figure above appeared to contain dumortierite, but further inspection revealed distinct bladed blue crystals that deviated from the expected prismatic morphology of dumortierite.
Raman spectroscopy identified several minerals including quartz, kyanite, and some iron sulfides. Kyanite, an aluminum silicate mineral typically associated with metamorphic rocks, provided the stone’s light blue color. Opaque metallic hexagonal sulfide crystals were scattered throughout the host. Occasional reddish orange crystals, located too deep within the stone for identification with Raman, were likely mica given the mineral association and structure.
These eye-visible inclusions come together to form a brightly colored quartz with a slight shimmer and unique character.
Jeffrey Hernandez is a staff gemologist at GIA in Carlsbad, California.
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