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Quartz with Chamosite
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Quartz | NMNH G10677 | Brazil | 5.09 ct |
This 5.09ct fancy rectangular cut quartz from Brazil has a dark brown chamosite crystal inclusion with needle-like inclusions of tourmaline. Chamosite is a member of the chlorite group and a relatively uncommon mineral in nature. By contrast, quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. It is the major constituent of beach sand and an important component of many types of rocks. Quartz is composed of the elements silicon and oxygen. In its pure state it is colorless, but just small amounts of various impurity atoms can yield a variety of colors. Quartz is usually one of the last minerals to form in a deposit, so it sometimes grows around existing crystals. Therefore, it is common to find inclusions in quartz, and because it is commonly transparent and colorless, the inclusions are easy to see.