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Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is a quartz variety that gets its name from its delicate pink color.

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Figure 1. Three quartz spheres weighing 4.85, 5.50, and 5.40 ct, respectively, colored by blue needle-like inclusions. Photo by Rong Liang.

Blue Color in Quartz Caused by Elbaite Inclusions

Rong Liang, Ying Ma, Huihuang Li, Rongxiang Du, and Muyu Chen, November 17, 2025

Blue needle-like inclusions are analyzed in three quartz spheres.

Figure 2. When viewed from the opposite side of the quartz host, the same gersdorffite inclusions display as hexagons. Photomicrograph by Nathan Renfro; field of view 8.11 mm.

Gersdorffite in Quartz

John I. Koivula and Nathan Renfro, November 17, 2025

Gersdorffite inclusions in quartz exhibit either triangular or hexagonal shapes when viewed from different directions

Intersecting needles of rutile form a “star” inclusion in this colorless quartz. Photomicrograph by Isabelle Corvin; field of view 2.2 mm.

Well-Formed Rutile Star in Quartz

Isabelle Corvin, August 29, 2025

Rutile needles intersect to form a star in colorless quartz.

Figure 2. The fibrous felted texture of the amphibole pebbles was revealed under magnification. Photomicrograph by Nathan Renfro; field of view 20.57 mm.

Mystery Pebbles in Quartz

John I. Koivula, Nathan Renfro, and Maxwell Hain, August 29, 2025

Amphibole pebbles in quartz resemble rocks stacked in a stone wall.

Numerous orange-yellow to orange solid inclusions are visible within the transparent colorless quartz. Photomicrograph by Wingtak Lui; field of view 5.1 mm. — Left: Numerous orange-yellow to orange solid inclusions are visible within the transparent colorless quartz. Right: Closer observation reveals bright orange wedge-shaped crystals. Photomicrographs by Wingtak Lui; fields of view 5.1 mm (left) and 3.2 mm (right).

Monazite in Quartz

Rui Rui Xing, Wingtak Lui, and Tsu Wei Chang, August 29, 2025

Numerous monazite crystals are observed in colorless quartz.

This orange inclusion in quartz with a striated bipyramidal structure was identified as lithiophilite. Photomicrograph by Liyan He; field of view 13.0 mm.

Lithiophilite in Quartz

Liyan He, Wingtak Lui, and Wang Zhang, August 29, 2025

A well-formed lithiophilite crystal is identified in colorless quartz

A group of rings featuring alexandrite from Brazil

Quarterly Crystal: Fluorite in Quartz from China

John I. Koivula, Nathan Renfro, and Maxwell Hain, June 5, 2025

A large transparent colorless quartz crystal from the Yaogangxian mine plays host to numerous fluorite inclusions.

A chaotic assortment of crystal inclusions comprises the busy interior of this quartz. Photomicrograph by Jeffrey Hernandez; field of view 3.57 mm.

Kyanite in Quartz

Jeffrey Hernandez, June 5, 2025

Eye-visible kyanite inclusions give this 7.83 ct quartz its light blue color.

Figure 1. “Daath,” a 4112.3 g rock crystal quartz sculpture carved by Jarex Schmidt. Photo by Annie Haynes."

Rock Crystal Quartz Skull

Jessa Rizzo and Nicole Ahline, June 5, 2025

A remarkable skull carved from quartz crystals mined in Arkansas is submitted to the Carlsbad laboratory.

Figure 1. Bright pink to red epidote crystals as “firework” sprays were a surprising discovery in rock crystal quartz. Photomicrograph by Nathan Renfro; field of view 2.16 mm.

Pink and Red Epidote in Quartz

John I. Koivula, Nathan Renfro, and Maxwell Hain, May 3, 2024

“Firework” sprays of hot pink to red epidote crystals are discovered in two rock crystal quartz cabochons.