dendritic quartz

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Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Variety:  Dendritic
Species:  Quartz
​​Mohs Hardness:  7 out of 10
Color:  Transparent and colorless, with tree branch-like inclusions
RI:  1.544 to 1.553 (very constant)
Birefringence:  0.009
SR/DR/AGG:  DR
Optic Character:  Uniaxial positive.
Pleochroism:  None
Spectrum:  Not diagnostic
Fluorescence:  Inert
SG:  2.64 to 2.69 (Usually 2.66)

dendritic quartz facts

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

​Dendritic quartz is clear rock crystal with fern-like dendrite inclusions.

The dendrites are typically iron, manganese, or other metallic oxides and can be black, gray, brown or green, and in rare cases, red.