Green phantom quartz's beautiful green color and internal phantom structures make it stand out from other quartz varieties. However, with the rise in popularity, fake and treated green phantom quartz has also entered the market. Here are some tips on how to tell if a piece of green phantom quartz is real or fake.
Color
Genuine green phantom quartz gets its color from natural mineral inclusions of chlorite, actinolite, or fuchsite inside the crystal. The green color should look natural, smooth, and consistent throughout the entire crystal. Fake green phantom quartz often looks unnaturally bright green or has blotchy color patterns. The green may also be limited to certain sections and not penetrate deep into the quartz.
Phantom Structures
Phantom crystals have clearly defined internal crystal shapes that resemble the overall external shape of the crystal. In green phantom quartz, look for distinct phantom structures separated by chlorite inclusions. Fakes sometimes have weak phantom lines or no visible phantoms at all. The chlorite inclusions between phantoms should be a grayish-green color and translucent. Fake green phantom quartz usually has more opaque white or cream-colored separations between phantoms when visible.
Bubbles and Debris
Examine the quartz for air bubbles, debris, and flow lines that indicate the crystal was artificially colored. Real phantom quartz has few imperfections inside while treated crystals often have many bubbles, debris, and unnatural looking flow patterns.
Coverage of Color
Check that the green coloration covers all surfaces and penetrates deep into the crystal. Fake phantom quartz is often only colored around the external surfaces. Examine the point or base of the crystal for areas where the natural white quartz is exposed. Natural green phantom quartz has the green evenly distributed through the entire crystal.
Hardness
Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Test by scratching the surface with a steel nail, knife blade, or piece of quartz. Real quartz will scratch steel and will not be scratched by other quartz. Fake glass or polymer quartz can be scratched by steel or real quartz.
Weight
Quartz has a density of 2.65 g/cm3. Fake glass and plastic quartz often feel noticeably lighter than a real crystal of similar size. Weigh your crystal on a jeweler's scale to check if its weight matches the expected density of quartz.
With these tips, you should be able to readily identify genuine natural green phantom quartz. Taking time to inspect crystals closely will help avoid confusion and accidental purchase of artificial products being passed off as real crystals.
