Large clear rock crystal smoky quartz sphere from Brazil with included rutile and tourmaline crystals

A 35 cm rock crystal and smoky quartz sphere from Brazil, with embedded golden rutile needles and black tourmaline crystals. A rare four-mineral constellation in a single polished sphere.

Rock crystal and smoky quartz are both varieties of quartz and differ only in their trace element configuration. In this sphere, clear rock crystal areas alternate with smoky quartz-colored phases, a marker of oscillating solution chemistry during crystallization.

The golden rutile needles (TiO₂) are a gemologically valued phenomenon: finest titanium oxide crystals that grow as needle-like inclusions during quartz genesis. Such quartzes are traditionally classified as rutilated quartz or Venus hair.

The black tourmaline needles (schorl) complete the sphere into a four-mineral composition. Brazilian deposits in Minas Gerais are globally the most productive source for such multi-mineralic quartz aggregates.

A collector's item with gemologically exceptional multi-component genesis and museum-quality size.