Quartz Inclusions Explained: Chlorite, Hematite, Tourmaline & Growth Features

Quartz can trap or grow around other minerals, fluids and earlier crystal surfaces. These internal features are broadly called inclusions, though not every associated mineral is literally enclosed inside the quartz.

Chlorite

Chlorite can form green to dark coatings and phantom outlines when quartz growth resumes around an earlier crystal stage.

Hematite

Hematite may appear as metallic crystals, reddish inclusions or surface associations that contrast strongly with clear quartz.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline can occur as prismatic crystals within or alongside quartz, especially in pegmatite environments.

Growth features

Phantoms, skeletal growth and zoning can record changes in the crystal’s growth conditions even when no separate mineral is present.

Explore our quartz specimens and skeletal and elestial quartz.