Very very clear sphere of tourmalinated quartz, rock crystal with enclosed black tourmalines

A polished rock crystal sphere from Madagascar, with numerous included black tourmaline needles. Mineralogically classified as tourmalinated quartz, a multi-component quartz variety.

Rock crystal is the purest quartz variety (SiO₂), crystallizing trigonal. Black tourmaline (schorl) grew needle-like into the surrounding quartz volume during the same pegmatitic phase. The tourmaline needles thus enclosed are clearly visible in the polished final product.

The clarity of this piece is exceptional. Typically, tourmalinated quartz grows with a milky quartz background, which only roughly reveals the tourmaline inclusions. A crystal-clear variant like this requires very calm deposit conditions during the growth phase.

Madagascar supplies pegmatite material of premium clarity, especially from the Vakinankaratra region. Tourmalinated quartz spheres of this quality are classified as top pieces in the collector's trade.

A collector's item with gemmological dual substance: quartz clarity as the carrier, tourmaline needles as the internal sculpture.