Drusy Quartz

Quartz

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV (retired)
Published: June 2014
Modified: September 2023
Drusy Quartz Polished Drusy Quartz Rough Drusy Quartz Jewelry

Drusy (Druzy or Druse) is a coating made up of numerous small mineral crystals. Drusy quartz sparkles in the light like grains of sugar. Many drusy quartz specimens form on the inside of geodes. Druse forms when mineral rich fluids come in contact with a rocks surface. When the water evaporates it allows quartz crystals to form on the surface of the rock. Drusy quartz is often dyed or CVD coated to give it a metallic luster.

General Information

Common Name
Drusy Quartz
Species
Quartz
Transparency
Translucent - Opaque
Refractive Index
1.544-1.553
Tolerance:very constant
Optic Character
Uniaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Polariscope Reaction
Aggregate (AGG), Doubly Refractive (DR)
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
7
Toughness
Varies
Inclusions
Drusy quartz is often treated by means of CVD to give a metallic luster and range of colors.
Luster
Vitreous, Metallic
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
None
Chemical Name
silicon dioxide (aka silica)
Chemical Formula
SiO2
Crystal System
Trigonal
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Drusy Quartz Colors

  • Bi-color Drusy Quartz
    Bi-color
  • Black Drusy Quartz
    Black
  • Blue Drusy Quartz
    Blue
  • Brown Drusy Quartz
    Brown
  • Colorless Drusy Quartz
    Colorless
  • Gray Drusy Quartz
    Gray
  • Green Drusy Quartz
    Green
  • Multi-color Drusy Quartz
    Multi-color
  • Orange Drusy Quartz
    Orange
  • Pink Drusy Quartz
    Pink
  • Purple Drusy Quartz
    Purple
  • Red Drusy Quartz
    Red
  • White Drusy Quartz
    White
  • Yellow Drusy Quartz
    Yellow

Alternate Names

Druse Quartz, Druzy Quartz

Countries of Origin

Unknown; Uruguay; China; United States of America; Brazil; Nepal; India; Indonesia

History

Whether you choose a pendant or earrings or even a ring, drusy stones take advantage of the natural way quartz crystals form. Over time, water deposits mineral crystals onto the quartz and drusy quartz is born! These tiny crystals can be set in jewelry without faceting or almost any treatment at all. Savvy designers take advantage of drusy's many reflective surfaces in their creations. Drusy stones may be set in their natural state. They may also be dyed or color-enhanced to improve the marvelous effects of mother nature.

Care

Treat your drusy stones with care. When you must clean them, a gentle rinse with warm water should be sufficient. Air dry thoroughly and store with care.