Smoky Quartz

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Sedrun, Tujetsch (Tavetsch), Vorderrhein Valley, Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden), Switzerland
© Anton Watzl

Formula:

SiO

Colour:

gray, brown, black

A variety of Quartz

Smoky-gray, brown to black quartz colored by Aluminum-based and irradiation-induced color centers.
The name Morion is used for black smoky quartz.
Smoky quartz is dichroic (from darker yellow-brown to lighter red-brown).

Black quartz crystals in anhydrite from Camporanda, Tuscany, Italy. These are not smoky quartz

Note: Very often black or brown crystals that are colored by inclusions of minerals or organic matter are erroneously called "smoky quartz" or "morion". Typical examples of such misnomers are black quartz crystals embedded in sedimentary rocks, as those found in gypsum, anhydrite and limestone in Italy and Spain.

Classification of Smoky Quartz

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http://www.mindat.org/min-3689.html
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Physical Properties of Smoky Quartz

Lustre:

Vitreous

Diaphaneity (Transparency):

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

gray, brown, black

Comment:

dichroic: darker yellow-brown to lighter red-brown

Chemical Properties of Smoky Quartz

Formula:

SiO

Essential elements:

O, Si

All elements listed in formula:

O, Si

Other Names for Smoky Quartz

Synonyms:

Cairngorm	Cairngorum Stone	Colorado Diamond	Ouro Verde Quartz	Quarzo affumicato
Radium Diamond	Smokey Quartz	Smoky Citrine	Smoky Topaz

Other Languages:

Danish:	Morion
Estonian:	Moorion
French:	Quartz fumée
German:	Morion Rauchquarz Rauchtopas
Italian:	Morione
Latvian:	Morions
Lithuanian:	Morionas
Polish:	Morion
Portuguese:	Quartzo morion

Russian:	Морион
Simplified Chinese:	烟石英烟晶烟水晶茶晶茶水晶
Slovak:	Morión
Spanish:	Morion
Swedish:	Rökkvarts

Other Information

Health Warning:

Quartz is usually quite harmless unless broken or powdered. Broken crystals and masses may have razor-sharp edges that can easily cut skin and flesh. Handle with care. Do not grind dry since long-term exposure to finely ground powder may lead to silicosis.

References for Smoky Quartz

Reference List:

- +

Marshall, Royal R. (1955): Absorption spectra of smoky quartz from an Arkansas vein deposit and from a Sierran miarolitic granite. Am. Min.: 40: 535-537.

Chudoba, K. F. (1962): Some relations between the causes of amethyst, smoky quartz, and citrine colors as given by modern science. Mineralogicheskii Sbornik (Lvov), (16), 91-105.

Cohen, Alvin J. (1989): New data on the cause of smoky and amethystine color in quartz. Mineralogical Record 20, 365-367.