How Is Rutilated Quartz Formed?

This mineral shows quartz with needle-like rutile embedded in it. Most rutilated quartz is formed by hydrothermal processes, and as the high temperatures cool and the pressure eases, rutile crystals become trapped inside the quartz crystals.

Where does rutilated quartz come from?

Rutilated quartz can be found in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan and the United States. Golden rutilated quartz was first found in Brazil in the in the Serra da Mangabeira mountain range in the 1940's where miners were originally picking up pieces of clear quartz for optical uses.

What makes rutilated quartz?

Rutilated quartz is a variety of quartz which contains acicular (needle-like) inclusions of rutile. It is used for gemstones. These inclusions mostly look golden, but they also can look silver, copper red or deep black.