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Aqua Aura Quartz is a form of quartz that has been artificially enhanced with a thin, metallic coating of gold. This treatment gives the quartz a vibrant, iridescent blue color, often with rainbow flashes. The underlying quartz can be clear, milky, or smoky, and its original crystal habit is retained. The gold coating is permanent and does not rub off.
How to Identify
- Color
- Vibrant, iridescent blue, often with rainbow flashes. The color is superficial and does not penetrate the crystal.
- Luster
- Metallic to sub-metallic, vitreous on untreated surfaces.
- Texture
- Smooth, often with visible crystal faces. The coating can sometimes appear slightly uneven or textured under magnification.
- Crystal Form
- Retains the hexagonal prismatic crystal habit of the underlying quartz, often with pyramidal terminations.
- Cleavage
- None (conchoidal fracture characteristic of quartz).
- Geological Environment
- Not found in a natural geological environment. It is a product of laboratory treatment.
Key Facts
- Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale (of the underlying quartz)
- Specific Gravity: 2.65 g/cm³ (of the underlying quartz, the coating is negligible in mass)
- Crystal System: Trigonal (of the underlying quartz)
- Color: Vibrant iridescent blue
- Luster: Metallic to sub-metallic on coated surfaces, vitreous on uncoated quartz
- Transparency: Transparent to translucent (of the underlying quartz)
- Fracture: Conchoidal (of the underlying quartz)
- Cleavage: None
- Composition: Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with a surface coating of elemental gold (Au)
Quick Check
- Color: Iridescent blue with metallic sheen
- Luster: Metallic to sub-metallic
- Streak: White (of the underlying quartz, as the coating is too thin to produce a streak)
Physical Characteristics
- Crystal Habit: Hexagonal prisms terminated by rhombohedra (of the underlying quartz)
- Cleavage Type: Absent
- Fracture Type: Conchoidal
- Tenacity: Brittle
- Luster Type: Metallic to sub-metallic on coated surfaces; vitreous on uncoated quartz
Formation
Aqua Aura Quartz is not a naturally occurring mineral. It is produced by a process called vacuum deposition, where natural quartz crystals are heated in a vacuum chamber to approximately 871 °C (1600 °F) and then exposed to vaporized gold. The gold atoms bond to the surface of the quartz, creating a permanent metallic sheen and a distinctive iridescent blue color. This is a man-made enhancement.
Usage
Primarily used in jewelry, ornamental objects, and for metaphysical or spiritual practices due to its aesthetic appeal and perceived energetic properties. It is not used in industrial applications.
Age Distribution
The base quartz can be of various geological ages, but the treatment is modern.
Where to Find
Not naturally occurring
Aqua Aura Quartz is a man-made product. The base quartz crystals are sourced from various quartz-producing localities worldwide, such as Brazil, Arkansas (USA), and Madagascar. The treatment process is performed in specialized facilities.
Finding Tips
Distinguishing from Natural Minerals
Aqua Aura Quartz's intense, uniform, and iridescent blue metallic sheen is a key indicator of its artificial nature. Natural blue minerals like blue topaz or kyanite will have a different luster and color saturation, and will not exhibit the same metallic iridescence.
Identifying the Base Quartz
Examine any areas where the coating might be thin or absent (e.g., around the base or fractured surfaces) to observe the natural appearance of the underlying quartz, which is typically clear, milky, or smoky.
Scratch Test (Caution Advised)
While not recommended for valuable specimens, a very light scratch with a steel tool on an inconspicuous area might reveal the underlying quartz if the coating is thin, but this can damage the specimen. The coating itself is very durable.
Similar Rocks
Angel Aura Quartz
Quartz (SiO2) with a surface coating of platinum and/or silver
Also known as: Opal Aura Quartz
Tanzanite Aura Quartz
Quartz (SiO2) with a surface coating of indium and/or niobium
Also known as: Indigo Aura Quartz
Cobalt Aura Quartz
Quartz (SiO2) with a surface coating of cobalt
Also known as: Blue Aura Quartz
Scientific Classification
- Mineral Class
- Silicate (Tectosilicate)
- Group
- Quartz Group
- Crystal System
- Trigonal
- Chemical Formula
- SiO2 (base mineral) + Au (surface coating)
- Composition
- Silicon dioxide with a thin, atomic layer of gold bonded to the surface.
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