Quartz
Quartz is a silicate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.
About Quartz
Quartz is a silicate mineral in the silica group and has the chemical formula SiO₂. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.
Identification & care
Specimens usually show prismatic, pyramidal, massive, drusy, geodes. Its color range is broad, including colorless, purple (amethyst), rose/pink, red, black (morion), yellow (citrine), brown (smoky), green, blue, and orange. The luster is vitreous, the streak is white, and specimens range from transparent to opaque. The cleavage is none / indistinct. The fracture is conchoidal, which aids identification.
Collector context
How it forms
The geological setting for Quartz is typically igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks; hydrothermal veins. It is commonly found in association with feldspar, mica, tourmaline, calcite.
Classic Chinese localities
Documented Chinese occurrences are recorded at Shangbao Mine, Jiama Cu-polymetallic deposit and Jinduicheng Mine, among others.
Why collectors care
Quartz is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.
What affects value
Value in Quartz is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.
Naming history
The name Quartz has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.
Available Quartz specimens

Quartz with Cassiterite and Purple Fluorite, Yaogangxian

Brazilian Agate Penguin Pair, Hand-Carved Sculptures

Grape Agate Pterosaur Hand-Carved Sculpture, Indonesia

Quartz Seahorse Hand-Carved Sculpture

Grape Agate Cluster, Deep Purple, Indonesia

Smoky Quartz Tower Cluster, Yaogangxian, Hunan, China

Quartz Crystal Geode, Split Formation, Brazil

Arsenopyrite with Quartz Crystal Cluster, Inner Mongolia

Red Quartz Crystal on Black Matrix, Jiangxi

Carved White Quartz Elephant Sculpture

Chalcopyrite Spherical Mass on Quartz, Jiangxi

Carved Quartz Elephant Figurine with Onyx Eyes

Elestial Quartz Crystal, Sichuan

Chlorite Phantom Quartz, Turkey

Quartz Crystal with Silver Mica Rosettes

Psilomelane with Quartz Crystals, Namibia

Boulangerite with Quartz and Pyrite, Inner Mongolia

Smoky Quartz with Garnet and Dolomite

Chalcopyrite on Quartz Matrix Specimen

Quartz Crystal Cluster with Pyrite, Yaogangxian

Clear Quartz Crystal Specimen, Namibia

Quartz Crystal Cluster on Matrix, Namibia

Arsenopyrite with Quartz and Calcite

Garden Quartz with Epidote Inclusions, Turkey

Large Quartz Geode on Gold Display Base

Carved Agate Crystal Skull with Quartz Cavity, Brazil

Quartz Geode on Gold Display Base

Screw Quartz Crystal Cluster – Inner Mongolia, China

Garden Quartz Crystal – Chlorite Inclusions, Sichuan

Botryoidal Grape Agate – Deep Purple – Sulawesi, Indonesia

Quartz Crystal Cluster with Pyrite – Yaogangxian, Hunan

Garden Quartz Cluster – Epidote Inclusions – Sichuan, China

Clear Quartz and Green Fluorite Cluster – Fujian, China

Grape Agate Chalcedony Cluster – Botryoidal – Sulawesi, Indonesia

Quartz Cluster with Calcite and Chalcopyrite – China

Quartz Crystal Cluster with Fluorite Core – Fujian, China

Hand-Carved Quartz Geode Skull – Extra Large – Natural Druzy

Hand-Carved Quartz Geode Skull – Large – Natural Druzy

Hand-Carved Quartz Crystal Skull – Druzy Interior – Natural Stone

Hand-Carved Quartz Geode Skull with Malachite – Natural Stone

Quartz Cluster with Cassiterite and Pyrite – Yaogangxian

Green Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Jalgaon District, Maharashtra

Colorless Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Erongo Mountains, Namibia

Quartz Cluster – Columnar with Druzy Cap – Yunnan Province, China

Green Quartz – Pseudocubic Habit – Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan

White Botryoidal Quartz – Glassy Luster – Fujian Province, China

Green Screw Quartz – Twisted Prismatic Form – Inner Mongolia, China

Herkimer-Style Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Daocheng, Sichuan

Herkimer-Style Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Daocheng, Sichuan

Smoky Quartz Crystal Cluster – Erongo Mountains, Namibia

Herkimer-Style Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Daocheng, Sichuan

Smoky Quartz Crystal Cluster – Erongo Mountains, Namibia

Herkimer-Style Quartz Crystal – Prismatic – Daocheng, Sichuan

Light Blue Botryoidal Quartz – Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Himalayan Quartz Crystal, Parvati Valley, Pakistan

Quartz Crystals, Maoniuping, Sichuan

Prismatic Quartz Crystal, Maoniuping, Sichuan, China

Quartz Crystal, Lanwen Mine, Yunnan, China

Quartz Scepter Crystal – Prismatic Form – Haramosh Mountains, Pakistan
