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UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes

Natural inorganic gem materials · Trade name: inclusion / visual-effect descriptor · Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Phantom Quartz

Quartz in which an interruption in growth is outlined inside the crystal by inclusions or a coating; "phantom" refers to this growth outline, not to a mineral species. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.

Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.

Edited by JuneReviewed by RalphLast updated 2026-10-12Who maintains this page

What this page can answer

This page covers

How Phantom Quartz forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
How to identify Phantom QuartzIdentification points from the research literature
Treatments and enhancements of Phantom QuartzThe enhancements and treatments the GB/T and JJA/AGL tables list
Hardness, density and refractive index of Phantom QuartzEach value with its source and check date
Phantom Quartz in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Has any of GIA, FTC, CIBJO or Gem-A put a name for it on record here?
Listing and disclosing Phantom QuartzThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale

What we cannot conclude

Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.

Material research: formation, causes and history

What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.

How it forms

Quartz crystal
Phantom: earlier face outline
Impurity layer / inclusions
Primary inclusions along growth layers
Secondary inclusions along a healed fracture

How phantom quartz forms: a schematic animation, not to scale; the captions are taken from the research record under “Material research” on this page.

If you reuse this animation, please credit LumaLark Wiki and link to this pageLicense: CC BY 4.0

Scene-by-scene transcript (8 scenes, with evidence grades and sources)

The caption of each scene in the animation above, with its evidence grade and sources.

Scene 1What phantom quartz is
Phantom quartz is quartz that shows layered 'phantom' outlines mirroring the crystal form; the cause is episodic growth with growth interruption.
Scope: Used to explain the growth-interruption origin of 'phantom' structures; does not determine specific inclusion mineral composition or whether the material has been treated.
Scope: The three sources describe the general mechanism of episodic quartz growth and growth layers; none discusses the trade name “phantom quartz” directly.
Sources
Scene 2One possible origin of the cavity: vesicles in lava
Cavities of this kind can begin as vesicles in lava: as a lava flow cools, bubbles of gas or steam expand while the rock solidifies, leaving small rounded cavities called vesicles; when minerals deposited from solutions circulating through the rock later fill them, the fillings are called amygdules.
Applies to open cavities that began as vesicles in lava (the source describes lavas of Isle Royale, Lake Superior, where all vesicles have since been filled and converted to amygdules); phantom quartz also occurs in hydrothermal vein pockets, which this entry does not cover.
Evidence grade A
Sources
- The Geologic Story of Isle Royale (Huber, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin; excerpt pp. 17–18)
Scene 3Setting: open cavities
Open cavities (e.g., vesicles/vugs in mafic volcanic rocks): crystals grow in stages into the cavity, forming multiple growth interfaces.
Quartz clusters can occur in open cavities such as vesicles/vugs in mafic volcanic rocks, for example in the Deccan Trap basalts of India.
Evidence grade A
Scope: An example occurrence; the source samples are iridescent quartz, and this does not cover every phantom-quartz locality.
Sources
Scene 4Silica-bearing fluid enters; quartz grows inward
Silica-bearing fluids enter an open cavity or vein pocket and quartz begins to grow inward.
Quartz can form by slow precipitation from silica-bearing solutions, accumulating stepwise in cavities.
Evidence grade A
Scope: A general quartz deposition mode; applies to many inclusion-bearing quartz types.
Sources
Scene 5Growth pauses, then resumes: a phantom forms
When growth pauses, the existing crystal faces become coated by a thin impurity layer or inclusions; when growth resumes, the earlier face outline is enclosed, producing a visible phantom interface.
The 'phantom' of phantom quartz is a growth layer/growth interface formed by episodic quartz growth, reflecting repeated or interrupted crystallization.
Evidence grade A
Scope: Explains the mechanism behind the phantom; does not claim the trigger of every interruption is the same.
Sources
Scene 6Repeated pauses; stacked phantoms
Repeated episodic growth produces multiple stacked phantom interfaces.
Growth interruption may be caused by pulsing or episodic injection of silica-rich fluids, producing stacked multiple growth interfaces (raised in the source only as a hypothesis).
Evidence grade B
Scope: The source raises this only as a hypothesis (pulsed silica-rich fluid would more likely produce stacked growth layers), notes that such layers were not observed in its samples and adopts a Brazil-twinning explanation instead; hence rated B.
Sources
Scene 7Later fractures and secondary inclusions
Later healed fractures can trap secondary inclusions that cut across growth zones.
Primary inclusions lie along the growth layers between phantom interfaces, and healed fractures can form secondary inclusions that cut across growth zones.
Evidence grade A
Scope: Distinguishes primary from secondary inclusions; makes no specific mineral-composition claim.
Sources
Scene 8What you end up seeing
Layered outlines mirroring the crystal form ('phantoms') are visible internally; impurity layers or inclusions sit on the phantom interfaces, and primary inclusions along growth layers may lie between them.
Timescale: The available authoritative sources give no number, duration or absolute age of growth interruptions for phantom quartz; they describe the general mechanism of episodic growth and growth layers, not a specific timescale for this trade name.
Sources

In brief: Phantom quartz is quartz that shows layered 'phantom' outlines mirroring the crystal form; the cause is episodic growth with growth interruption.

Full research record (formation summary, where it forms, 5 formation steps, related base materials)

Phantom quartz is quartz that shows layered 'phantom' outlines mirroring the crystal form; the cause is episodic growth with growth interruption. The quartz grows inward from silica-bearing fluids in open cavities or vein pockets. When growth pauses, the existing crystal faces become coated by a thin impurity layer or inclusions; when growth resumes, the earlier face outline is enclosed, producing a visible phantom interface. The trigger of growth interruption is not settled in the sources; pulsing or episodic injection of silica-rich fluid is mentioned only as a hypothesis. Primary inclusions lie along growth layers, while healed fractures can produce secondary inclusions that cut across growth zones.

Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024

Where it forms

Hydrothermal vein pockets: many hydrothermal deposits show successive quartz layers deposited in their pockets (e.g., Thunder Bay, Madjarovo); the sources do not settle what triggers growth interruption.

Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024

Relatively closed crystal pockets: at La Manche, Newfoundland, neighbouring vein pockets differ in colour, zoning and crystal size, suggesting each behaved as a nearly closed system; each pocket there holds a single generation of crystals with no repeated quartz layers, so this entry does not explain how phantoms form.

Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024

How it forms, step by step

Silica-bearing fluids enter an open cavity or vein pocket and quartz begins to grow inward.
Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
Growth pauses, and the existing faces are coated by a thin impurity layer or inclusions.
Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
Growth resumes, and the earlier face outline is enclosed within the crystal.
Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
Repeated episodic growth produces multiple stacked phantom interfaces.
Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
Later healed fractures can trap secondary inclusions that cut across growth zones.
Sources G&G Spring 1982 · G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024

Related base materials

Quartz (SiO₂): inclusion-bearing-quartz-of | This type of material is quartz containing inclusions, attached to the mineral species quartz, not an independent mineral species

Supporting findings

How it is identified

The colour and inclusion appearance of 'phantom-quartz' cannot establish whether a stone is natural, synthetic or treated: quartz varieties that look alike may differ entirely in composition, growth history and treatment, and synthetic and natural quartz share essentially the same composition and physical properties, so the unaided eye cannot separate them. Laboratory identification rests on measurable properties and the division of labour between instruments — a polariscope with a conoscope lens can judge colour-zoning orientation from extinction and optic-axis readings, a refractometer gives refractive-index values, and EDXRF with infrared spectroscopy supplies chemical and structural fingerprints. Limitations: some methods depend on how the stone was cut and on comparison with reference material, and the final conclusion must be issued by an accredited gemological laboratory through testing rather than inferred from appearance.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Identification and separation points; testing must be performed by an accredited gemological laboratory, and no self-test thresholds are given.

Sources G&G Summer 2014 · CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022

Limits of this research

Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
The trigger of growth interruption is not settled in the sources: fluid pulsing is mentioned only as a hypothesis, and that source did not observe stacked growth layers in its samples.
No number, duration or absolute age for the growth interruptions.

Methodology

Evidence grades

A: Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
B: Institutional educational material
C: Specialist databases or cautious readings

A statement is never graded above its strongest source.

This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.

DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments

Suggested listing name: Phantom Quartz (state the colour and the inclusions)

GB/T 16552—2017 5.1.1 c)

Construction or treatment status

Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Treatments recorded for this material: Heated / Heat-treated (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Coated (via parent material)

Related:Disclosure and cautions

This page cannot answer

Natural? · Origin · Price

A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.

Related:What this page can answer

Answer at a glance

"Phantom Quartz" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Laboratory identification required before the name is used. Industry-wide term that does not denote a single species.

What this means for you

Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Phantom Quartz (state the colour and the inclusions)" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.

Known uncertainty

This entry's exact material identity is not fully settled.
See “Disclosure and cautions” above

Last reviewed: 2026-09-01

Trade-name ruling

Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
Industry-wide term that does not denote a single species.

Suggested listing name: Phantom Quartz (state the colour and the inclusions)

Care and wear

No care facts are recorded for this entry itself. Its parent material has care records: see Quartz.

Treatments and identification leads

One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

Treatment	Market frequency (CIBJO)	Stability (CIBJO)	GB/T 16552 category	JJA/AGL listing	Identification leads
Heating	—	—	Optimization	—	—
Irradiation	—	—	Optimization	—	—
Filling	—	—	Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1	—	—
Dyeing	—	—	Treatment	—	—
Coating	—	—	Treatment	—	—

“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (row for Rock Crystal)

Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):

GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15

VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources

Names

The name register below lists 8 names for Phantom Quartz in non-Latin scripts: 8 with no restriction recorded on use as a name.

Standard and listing namesThe name Phantom Quartz is not listed in GB/T 16552—2017, and the corresponding basic name is rock crystal; the suggested listing name is Phantom Quartz (stating colour and inclusions). Trade and mineralogical namesCommon market names include Chinese names for green, white, red, four-season, multi-layer and pink phantoms, green phantom quartz and pink multi-layer phantom quartz. Names in four languagesNames are registered in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Phantom Quartz) and Japanese. Institution usageOn authority wording, the FTC and CIBJO texts on file have no wording for this name (checked), and GIA and Gem-A are unchecked; Phantom Quartz is the entry's own English name shown for bodies without a recorded wording and does not represent their position. Japanese namesFor the GSJ (Japan), the Japanese name shown is the entry's own, and the wording used by the GSJ for this name is not yet verified by this site. Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name refers to quartz whose growth was interrupted, leaving an internal outline traced by inclusions or a coating; “phantom” refers to the growth outline, not a mineral species.

Name register

Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

Name	Type	Matching	Use as a name	Basis
no restriction recorded (8)
千层幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
四季幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
白幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
粉幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
粉幽灵千层水晶Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
红幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
绿幽灵Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)
绿幽灵水晶Simplified Chinese	market name	matched automatically	no restriction recorded	editorial ruling (no clause cited)

How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.

Authority wording

GIA, FTC, CIBJO, Gem-A: Phantom Quartz (no wording for this name in the FTC, CIBJO text on file; GIA, Gem-A unchecked — bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name)

GSJ (Japan) formal name: ファントムクォーツ／山入り水晶 (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
GB/T naming counterpart (this name is not in the standard): 水晶 (GB/T 16552—2017 §5.1.1 c))
Mineralogical name: Quartz showing phantom growth outlines caused by interrupted growth and inclusions/coatings

Four-language names

简体中文: 幽灵水晶
繁體中文: 幽靈水晶
English: Phantom Quartz
日本語: ファントムクォーツ／山入り水晶

Classification

Origin: Natural materials
Material domain: Natural inorganic gem materials
Browsing family: Quartz and chalcedony materials
Identity tier: Trade name: inclusion / visual-effect descriptor
Mineral chemical class: Silicates
Construction or treatment status: Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Treatments listed by standards

GB/T 16552—2017, Annex B, Table B.1 does not list Phantom Quartz itself; this site applies the “Rock Crystal” row of Table B.1, which lists: heating as an optimization, irradiation as an optimization, filling as graded, dyeing as a treatment and coating as a treatment. What Table B.1 is and how the filling grades are defined are on the Gem treatments page, and the full row, with the effect column, is on the Rock Crystal page.

GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1

Under the “Rock Crystal” row of Table B.1: Heating Optimization; Irradiation Optimization; Filling Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1; Dyeing Treatment; Coating Treatment. The full row, with the effect column, is on the Rock Crystal page.

What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.

What it is and how it's identified

Registered material facts

Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.

Chemical composition, luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum, magnification: these whole-class features are given in the cited clause for rock crystal (the whole class), so they are not repeated on the Phantom Quartz page; see the material facts on the Rock Crystal entry.

Items below that name the class they cover give the cited clause’s value for that whole class, not a measurement of Phantom Quartz (how to read class-level values).

Structure

Phantom Quartz — structure (overall): crystalline

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — structure (crystal system): trigonal

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — structure (crystal habit): hexagonal prisms with prominent horizontal striations on the prism faces

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Durability

Phantom Quartz — Mohs hardness: 7

GB/T 16553—2017

Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))

Mohs hardnessSource: GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — cleavage: none

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Physical properties

Phantom Quartz — density: 2.64–2.69 g/cm³

GB/T 16553—2017

Specific gravitySource: GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Qualification: The clause we cite gives 2.66, with a stated tolerance of +0.03 / -0.02. The range shown here is worked out from that.

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Optical

Optical effects on record: chatoyancy representative example: cause in Tiger’s Eye (schematic)asterism representative example: cause in Star Sapphire (schematic)

Phantom Quartz — optic character: anisotropic material, uniaxial, with positive optic character; a “Bull's eye” interference figure may be present, and Brazil-law twinning is common in amethyst.

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — refractive index: 1.544–1.553

GB/T 16553—2017

Refractive indexSource: GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — birefringence: 0.009

GB/T 16553—2017

BirefringenceSource: GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — pleochroism: weak; it depends on the body colour.

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state: untreated
Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — optical effect (chatoyancy): seen

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Phantom Quartz — optical effect (asterism): seen; a six-rayed star, common in rose quartz.

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

CIBJO definitions: chatoyancy, asterism

Quality factors

Phantom Quartz — quality factor (lustre): vitreous

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state: untreated
Does this standard apply: applies to this entry
What this covers: rock crystal (the whole class)

Source & check 2026-09-26

Source

GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)

Fact checked on

2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.548 / 2.67; Closest values: 1Agate 1.537 / 2.63, 2Shoushan Stone 1.56 / 2.7, 3Changhua Stone 1.56 / 2.6, 4Bamboo Coral 1.57 / 2.65, 5Synthetic Beryl 1.57 / 2.69

Show the full chart (330 registered materials)

Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22

Refractive index × specific gravity (all registered materials)Each dot is one material's registered refractive index and specific gravity (range midpoints, not measurements); gold = this material, dark = the nearest few (picked on this site by distance in RI ÷ 0.02 and SG ÷ 0.1, leaving out near-identical varieties of the same species)Source: each material's registered refractive index and specific gravity facts (GB/T 16553 and others; sources on each entry)

Evidence and sources

Authority basis and clause sources

GB/T 16552—2017: Not listed the name does not occur anywhere in the text; scope: Chapter 1 “Scope” · Source
GB/T 16552—2017: Naming rule 5.1.1 c) · Source
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024: Not listed no occurrence of “Phantom Quartz” in chapter 7; scope set by §7.1.1 “Gemstone” definition (Gemstones encompass) · Source

Sources

Page	Content	Status
Browsing family	Quartz and chalcedony materials	Live
Treatments recorded for this material	Heated / Heat-treated (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Coated (via parent material)	Live
Related articles	To be added (placeholder)	Planned

Who maintains this page

The material facts in the Phantom Quartz entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.

Facts editor: June
Reviewer: Ralph
How facts are checked: Each fact is matched to the clause it cites; facts checked on 2026-09-26
Last revised: 2026-10-12
Purpose: Lets buyers and sellers check naming, disclosure and material facts clause by clause.

Spotted an error? Report it on the forum

What this page can answer

Material research: formation, causes and history

How it forms

Scene-by-scene transcript (8 scenes, with evidence grades and sources)

Scene 1What phantom quartz is

Scene 2One possible origin of the cavity: vesicles in lava

Scene 3Setting: open cavities

Scene 4Silica-bearing fluid enters; quartz grows inward

Scene 5Growth pauses, then resumes: a phantom forms

Scene 6Repeated pauses; stacked phantoms

Scene 7Later fractures and secondary inclusions

Scene 8What you end up seeing

Full research record (formation summary, where it forms, 5 formation steps, related base materials)

Where it forms

How it forms, step by step

Related base materials

Supporting findings

How it is identified

Limits of this research

Methodology

Evidence grades

Answer at a glance

What this means for you

Known uncertainty

Trade-name ruling

Care and wear

Treatments and identification leads

Names

Name register

Authority wording

Four-language names

Classification

Treatments listed by standards

GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1

What it is and how it's identified

Registered material facts

Structure

Durability

Physical properties

Optical

Quality factors

Evidence and sources

Authority basis and clause sources

Sources

Further reading

Related pages

Treatments recorded for this material

Related entries and topic cluster

Who maintains this page