Where is Chlorite Included Quartz found?
SiO2 with Chlorite
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Open the appChlorite Included Quartz occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Chlorite Included Quartz
Brazil
Known for producing large, high-quality quartz crystals with various inclusions, including chlorite, often forming distinct phantom layers.
Himalayan Mountains (e.g., Pakistan, Nepal)
Source of clear quartz with fine, often mossy or dusty chlorite inclusions, sometimes referred to as 'Himalayan Green Quartz'.
United States (e.g., Arkansas, North Carolina)
Various localities produce quartz with chlorite, particularly in metamorphic terrains or hydrothermal deposits.
Switzerland (Alps)
Alpine clefts are famous for producing pristine quartz crystals, some of which contain chlorite inclusions.
Collecting tips
- Look for Green Hues. The most obvious indicator is the presence of green coloration within otherwise clear or milky quartz. The green can range from pale to dark, and its distribution can be uniform, patchy, or layered.
- Examine Crystal Growth Patterns. Chlorite inclusions often highlight growth stages, forming 'phantom' crystals within the larger quartz crystal. Look for these internal outlines.
- Check for Associated Minerals. Chlorite-included quartz is often found in environments with other metamorphic or hydrothermal minerals. Identifying the geological context can aid in discovery.
- Hardness Test. The quartz itself will be hard (Mohs 7). While the chlorite inclusions are softer (Mohs 2-2.5), they are protected by the quartz, so a scratch test on the quartz surface will yield a hardness of 7.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Clear to milky with green, greenish-yellow, or brownish-green inclusions.
- Luster:
- Vitreous (glassy) for quartz, dull to pearly for inclusions.
- Streak:
- White (for quartz); green to greenish-white (for chlorite, if powdered separately, which is difficult within quartz).
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