Green Quartz

Green quartz is a crystal which can occur naturally (Dioptase), can be derived from heat-treating amethyst (Prasiolite), can be grown in laboratory conditions (Siberian green quartz) or can be coloured through artificial irradiation.

Dioptase is a beautiful, vivid emerald-green, with a hint of blue and high fire. The best quality crystals are found in copper deposits in Russia, Poland, Africa (Namibia, Zaire) South America (Chile) and the USA (Arizona). Prized by the collector for its colour, it is nevertheless rarely faceted as stones are brittle and fragile and too soft to be worn.
(Hardness of 5 on the Moh's scale).

Some amethysts from certain localities alter the colour to green when heated under appropriate conditions. They are known as prasiolite or "greened amethyst". It is now commonly known that amethyst changes colour when heated. Most amethyst changes to yellow after heating to between 350ºC and 550ºC, which is how citrine changes from amethyst. Citrine changes to colourless or milky after further heating at over 600ºC. However, the outcome is not always predictable because individuality, sectors in crystal or difference in locality may influence the results. Amethyst from Montezuma in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, has been called "prasiolite" or "green amethyst" and has been shown to change to green by heating at 400 to 550ºC.

Materials from Four Peaks in Arizona (USA), around the border between California and Nevada states (USA) and Zimbabwe are also known to change to green. The area around the border of the states is particularly interesting as it produces unusual naturally coloured green quartz (Dioptase). So-called "greened amethyst" is produced by heating amethyst from certain localities and a rather unusual material. Naturally coloured green stone does rarely occur in some areas, but it cannot be distinguished from those artificially heated.

Synthetic green quartz has been artificially irradiated and is not considered as "greened amethyst". Although this material is difficult to identify visually, gemologists have developed methods of distinguishing between them.
Siberian Green Quartz is a deep emerald-green colour and is regrown in Russia from natural quartz with chemicals added to produce the intense colour. Similar in energy to Dioptase it is associated with love and is said to clear, open and heal the heart and emotions.

The examples on this page are Siberian Green Quartz which can be purchased either on site at Tiare Black Pearl's stores in Olinda or Mornington (Melbourne) or from our online store.