Quartz, one of the most common minerals, has a secret side. It has unique and breathtaking varieties that boast colors, patterns, and features that set them apart from the rest. Collectors and enthusiasts go on real-life treasure hunts for them.

In this article, we invite you on an adventure to explore the rarest and most expensive types of quartz. We’ll unveil the mystery and allure that make these gems the crown jewels of the mineral world.

Rarest And Most Expensive Quartz Types

Each rare type of quartz carries its own charm and personality, with some displaying stunning colors that seem to dance in the light, while others captivate with their intricate internal designs. Get ready to be captivated as we go through them here.

Amethyst Geode (Amethyst Cathedral)

Amethyst geodes, also known as amethyst cathedrals, are stunning natural wonders that are full of deep purple crystals. They form when lava flows trap bubbles of gas, and over millions of years, these hollow spaces fill with silica-rich liquid.

Slowly, this liquid crystallizes into quartz and turns into the beautiful purple amethyst. What makes them among the rarest and most expensive quartz types is their size, the depth of the purple color, and the clarity of the crystals inside.

The most expensive amethyst geode ever found is called the “Empress of Uruguay,” standing over 10 feet tall and sparkling with thousands of deep purple crystals.

Blue Quartz

Blue quartz, with its calming shades of blue, captures the wonder of a clear sky in a solid form. Its unique color comes from tiny inclusions of minerals like dumortierite or tourmaline, which scatter light and create its serene hue.

This process isn’t something you see in every quartz. Its rarity boosts its value, as finding a piece with just the right color and clarity is quite a treasure hunt.

The value of quartz like this goes beyond just looks; it’s about the rarity and the special conditions needed for its color to shine through.

Natural Citrine

Natural citrine sparkles with a warm, inviting glow, ranging from pale yellow to deep amber, much like the sun setting in the sky. It forms when amethyst or smoky quartz is naturally heated within the earth, a rare occurrence that adds to its allure.

Citrine’s rarity and its vibrant colors contribute to its status as one of the rarest and most expensive types of quartz. It gets its stunning color from traces of iron.

In the past, citrine was believed to calm tempers and soothe anger. Ancient cultures also regard it as a gem that holds the power of the sun.

Star Rose Quartz

Star rose quartz stands out among the types of quartz for its soft pink color and the magical star-like effect it displays when light hits it just right.

This special glow, known as asterism, is caused by tiny rutile needles inside the quartz, which reflect light in a unique pattern. The way these crystals form is quite rare, that’s it’s one of the most sought-after and expensive types of quartz.

Its rarity and the mesmerizing star effect elevate its appeal and value, making it a favorite among collectors and jewelry lovers.

Rutilated Quartz

Inside clear or smoky quartz, you’ll find thin, needle-like inclusions of rutile, a mineral that can look golden, silver, or even reddish. These rutile needles create captivating patterns, making the rutilated quartz unique.

This gem forms when quartz crystal grows around the rutile inclusions, trapping them inside.

Because finding quartz with just the right amount of visible, beautifully patterned rutile is quite rare, rutilated quartz is one of the more expensive types of quartz.

Morion

Morion is known for its deep, opaque black color. This dark hue sets it apart in the spectrum of colors of quartz, making it a standout choice for collectors and gem enthusiasts.

It forms from the same silicon dioxide as other quartz types, but its darkness comes from a higher content of impurities that absorb almost all light. Its rarity and the intensity of its black color contribute to its status as a rare quartz type.

Despite its dark appearance, it shares the same basic crystal structure as clear quartz, proving that quartz can truly come in a wide array of appearances.

Green Quartz (Prasiolite)

Green quartz, also known as prasiolite, is a rare and beautiful type of quartz with a soft, pale green color. It gets its unique hue from small amounts of iron in it, which, under certain conditions, changes color.

Unlike other colors of quartz, prasiolite naturally occurs less frequently, making it one of the rarest and most expensive types. Most green quartz in jewelry has been heat-treated, but natural prasiolite, with its delicate green shade, is a natural gem.

Interestingly, its discovery was quite accidental; it was first identified when some amethysts were unintentionally heated, revealing the stunning green transformation.

Lemurian Quartz

Lemurian quartz features a series of horizontal striations or grooves across its sides. These markings are key to identifying quartz of this kind, setting it apart from other types.

It’s just like other quartz in composition, but it’s the pattern of lines that tells a special story, believed by some to hold ancient wisdom. It’s among the rarest and most expensive quartz types because it’s mined in only a few locations.

Its grooves were naturally formed by a rapid growth process, causing the crystal to pause and then continue growing, leaving behind a ‘record’ of its formation.

Spirit Quartz (Cactus Quartz or Fairy Quartz)

Spirit quartz, often called cactus quartz or fairy quartz, sparkles with many tiny crystals covering a larger, central crystal.

This unique look is why it’s named cactus quartz, as it resembles the spiny exterior of a cactus, and fairy quartz for its delicate, shimmering appearance. Its distinctive formation and the labor-intensive process to mine it without damage make it rare.

It was first discovered in South Africa in the early 2000s, making it a relatively new gem.

Herkimer Diamonds

Herkimer diamonds are not diamonds at all, but clear, beautiful double-terminated quartz crystals. They’re called “diamonds” because of their sparkling clarity and natural faceted appearance, making them look similar to real diamonds.

What sets them apart as one of the rarest and most expensive types of real quartz is their unique formation and exceptional hardness, which is higher than that of most other quartz.

They’re called Herkimer diamonds because they were first discovered in Herkimer County, New York.

Ametrine

Ametrine blends the warm yellows of citrine with the rich purples of amethyst in a single crystal.

This unique look comes from a rare condition during its formation, where different temperatures on each side of the crystal allow both types of quartz to develop. This blend of colors makes ametrine one of the rarest and most expensive quartz types.

It was once believed to have been first introduced to Europe by Spanish conquistadors who received it as a gift from the native peoples in South America.

Papagoite in Quartz

Papagoite in quartz showcases stunning blue streaks or patches within clear quartz. This rare combination occurs when papagoite, a mineral known for its vivid azure hue, forms alongside or within quartz crystals.

The result is a mesmerizing display of sky-blue colors against the transparency of quartz, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. It’s one of the rarest and most expensive types of quartz due to the scarcity of papagoite itself.

Papagoite was named after the Papago region in Arizona, hinting at its geographical connections. However, finding papagoite in quartz is an even rarer occurrence.