The facts
What rutilated Quartz actually is
The species behind rutilated Quartz is quartz with rutile inclusions, SiO₂ + TiO₂ inclusions; it forms in the trigonal system.
Colourless to smoky host; golden or red needles are rutile (TiO₂) is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity of about 2.65, with none cleavage.
Where rutilated Quartz comes from
Commercial material comes from Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Madagascar.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How rutilated Quartz is treated
Untreated — the inclusions are the product. Smoky hosts may be irradiated. Glass imitations with copper-coloured flakes appear in low-price channels.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What rutilated Quartz is confused with
Watch for Tourmalinated quartz, Goldstone glass and Actinolite in quartz — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What rutilated Quartz is used for
The trades that buy rutilated Quartz are jewellery, mineral collecting, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and architecture and interiors. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Rutilated Quartz is 7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What rutilated Quartz costs
Expect roughly $3–60/ct depending on needle quality, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is rutilated Quartz treated, and how?
Untreated — the inclusions are the product. Smoky hosts may be irradiated. Glass imitations with copper-coloured flakes appear in low-price channels.
Where does rutilated Quartz come from?
Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is rutilated Quartz hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does rutilated Quartz cost?
Indicatively $3–60/ct depending on needle quality. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is rutilated Quartz confused with?
Most often Tourmalinated quartz, Goldstone glass and Actinolite in quartz. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
What is rutilated Quartz used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for rutilated quartz?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about rutilated quartz