On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Trade name: cultural / brand designation · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Quartz Crystal
Also known asLemurian crystal · Lemurian seed crystal
Quartz sold under a trade name ("Lemurian") tied to a spiritual story, usually recognised by growth striations on its surface; the name appears in neither the IMA nor the CIBJO lists. 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.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Quartz Crystal forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify Quartz CrystalIdentification points from the research literature
- Treatments and enhancements of Quartz CrystalThe enhancements and treatments the GB/T and JJA/AGL tables list
- Hardness, density and refractive index of Quartz CrystalEach value with its source and check date
- Quartz Crystal 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 Quartz CrystalThe 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
'Lemurian quartz' is a commercial and narrative name applied to quartz on the basis of surface growth/etch marks (often described as horizontal striations or 'ladder-like' growth striations); it has no definition in authoritative mineralogical literature, is not an identifiable mineral kind, and mineralogically the material is quartz (SiO2). Quartz surfaces can indeed bear striations: research shows that etch pits and striations on quartz relate to crystal growth and later etching, where post-growth invasive fluids preferentially attack structural defects such as twin boundaries and sculpt a valley-and-ridge surface. Such surface textures are therefore ordinary quartz growth/etch features, not evidence of a distinct material or origin. The name and its narrative have no counterpart in the authoritative literature.
Scope: Used to explain that Lemurian quartz is a narrative / commercial name and the material referred to is quartz, and that its signature surface texture is a common growth / etching feature of quartz; it is not recognised as an independent mineral species.
Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Summer 2019
Where it forms
Ordinary quartz crystallisation settings (hydrothermal veins, geodes, etc.) in which surface striations and etch features can develop on quartz.
Sources G&G Spring 2017
Post-growth fluid-etching setting: after crystallisation, invasive fluids can preferentially attack defects such as twin boundaries, forming etch pits and striations.
Sources G&G Spring 2017
How it forms, step by step
Silica-bearing fluids crystallise quartz (the material this name refers to is mineralogically quartz).
During growth, growth striations form on crystal faces (common surface features of quartz).
Post-growth, invasive fluids preferentially etch along structural defects (e.g. twin boundaries), sculpting a valley-and-ridge surface and etch pits that can be taken as the name's 'hallmark'.
The market sells material with such textures under the 'Lemurian quartz' name; the name does not change the fact that the material is quartz.
Link to appearance
Often described as horizontal surface striations or 'ladder-like' growth striations; research shows such striations and etch pits arise from crystal growth and later preferential etching along defects such as twin boundaries.
Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Summer 2019
Timescale
The sources give no age or duration associated with 'Lemurian quartz'; the name's narrative has no counterpart in the authoritative literature.
Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Summer 2019
Related base materials
- Quartz (SiO2): market-name-of | Lemurian quartz is a market/narrative name; the material referred to is quartz
Supporting findings
Surface striations and etch pits on quartz can arise from crystal growth and later preferential etching by invasive fluids along structural defects such as twin boundaries.
Evidence grade BScope: Established in a study of iridescent quartz; naming a quartz surface texture 'Lemurian' does not thereby give it a distinct origin.
How it is identified
The colour and inclusion appearance of 'lemurian-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 AScope: 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
Other research findings
'Lemurian quartz' is a commercial and narrative name based on surface growth/etch marks; it has no mineralogical definition and is not an identifiable mineral kind; the material is quartz.
Evidence grade CScope: Defines the nature of the name only; its narrative claims are out of scope.
Quartz surface texture is insufficient to establish provenance or a distinctive formation process; the name's narrative (e.g. a specific origin) has no basis in the authoritative literature.
Evidence grade CScope: The cited source notes that source-locality attribution can itself be ambiguous, showing appearance/name cannot establish provenance.
Quartz is identified by measured properties (e.g. characteristic infrared and Raman peaks), not by appearance or commercial name.
Evidence grade CScope: A testing-methodology boundary; appearance and name are not identification evidence.
Sources G&G Summer 2019
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- 'Lemurian quartz' has no authoritative mineralogical definition; the name does not constitute an identifiable material kind and is neither a mineral species nor a variety.
- Its narrative claims (origin/meaning) have no basis in the authoritative literature.
- The cited mechanisms (quartz growth striations and post-growth etching) come from a study of iridescent quartz, not of material sold under this name.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
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
- Quartz sold as Lemurian (trade name; the material is quartz)
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
"Quartz Crystal (trade name: Lemurian / Lemurian Seed Crystal)" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Trade name rather than a mineralogical species name.
Evidence
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Quartz sold as Lemurian (trade name; the material is quartz)" 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
- Trade name rather than a mineralogical species name.
- Suggested listing name
- Quartz sold as Lemurian (trade name; the material is quartz)
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
Besides Quartz Crystal, the name register records "Lemurian crystal" and "Lemurian seed crystal", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded.
Trade and mineralogical namesThe identity tier of Quartz Crystal (Lemurian) is trade name (a cultural/brand name); the corresponding national-standard name is rock crystal, on the basis of GB/T 16552—2017, and the name itself is not listed in the original standard. Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name is Lemurian quartz crystal (trade name; give the material as quartz). Names in four languagesNames are given in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Quartz Crystal, trade name Lemurian/Lemurian Seed Crystal) and Japanese (rock crystal, with the trade names Lemurian and Lemurian Seed Crystal in katakana). Trade and mineralogical namesThe common market names Lemurian crystal and Lemurian seed crystal are market names under a ruling by this site, with no restriction on use recorded, and are linked to the high-risk names Super Seven, Lemurian and Azeztulite. 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; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name Quartz Crystal, and the qualifier stripped from the title name, trade name: Lemurian/Lemurian Seed Crystal, also comes from the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. Japanese namesThis site registers Japan's GSJ formal name as the entry's own Japanese name, and Japan's GSJ wording for it is not yet verified by this site.
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 (2) | ||||
| Lemurian crystalEnglish | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Super Seven, Lemurian, Azeztulite”. |
| Lemurian seed crystalEnglish | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Super Seven, Lemurian, Azeztulite”. |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- 水晶（商業名：レムリアン／レムリアンシードクリスタル） (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 sold under a metaphysical/trade name, often based on surface growth markings
- Trade names and synonyms
- Lemurian crystal (market name) · Lemurian seed crystal (market name)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 列姆利亚水晶
- 繁體中文
- 列姆利亞水晶
- English
- Quartz Crystal (trade name: Lemurian / Lemurian Seed Crystal)
- 日本語
- 水晶（商業名：レムリアン／レムリアンシードクリスタル）
Qualifiers stripped from the headline name
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Quartz and chalcedony materials
- Identity tier
- Trade name: cultural / brand designation
- Mineral chemical class
- Silicates
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
Quartz Crystal is not recorded under this name in GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1; this site applies the table's “Rock crystal” row: heating is listed as optimization, irradiation as optimization, filling is defined by the standard's grades, dyeing is listed as treatment and coating as treatment. The notes to Table B.1 and the definitions of the filling grades are on the Gem treatments 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
The material facts for Quartz Crystal are registered from the clause for rock crystal (the whole class). For rock crystal (the whole class): structure crystalline, trigonal, with hexagonal prismatic crystals showing pronounced horizontal striations on the prism faces; Mohs hardness 7, cleavage none; density 2.64–2.69 g/cm³, where the cited clause gives 2.66 with a permitted tolerance of +0.03/−0.02 and the range is derived from this. For rock crystal (the whole class), optically anisotropic, uniaxial, positive, a "bull's-eye" interference figure may appear, and Brazil-law twinning is common in amethyst; refractive index 1.544–1.553, birefringence 0.009. For rock crystal (the whole class), pleochroism when untreated is weak and varies with colour, and lustre when untreated is vitreous. For rock crystal (the whole class), the cat's-eye effect can occur; asterism can occur as six-rayed stars, mostly seen in rose quartz. Chemical composition, luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum and magnification are written for rock crystal (the whole class) and are not repeated under Quartz Crystal.
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 Quartz Crystal 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 Quartz Crystal (how to read class-level values).
Structure
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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))
- 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — density: 2.64–2.69 g/cm³
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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — refractive index: 1.544–1.553
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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — birefringence: 0.009
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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Quartz sold as Lemurian — 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
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Quartz on this site: 74 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Quartz Crystal) is marked.
- Quartz
Sub-entries (57)
- Agate
Sub-entries (1)
- Amethyst
- Ametrine
- Aventurine Quartz
- Aventurine Quartz / Green Aventurine
- Banded Agate
- Black Agate
- Bloodstone / Heliotrope
- Blue Lace Agate
- Carnelian
- Chalcedony
Sub-entries (2)
- Chrysoprase
- Citrine
- Clear Quartz / Rock Crystal
- Coated Quartz
- Colourless to White Quartz (brand name: Azeztulite)
- Crazy Lace Agate
- Dendritic Agate
- Dyed Agate (Treated: dyed)
- Elestial Quartz / Skeletal Quartz
- Eye Agate
- Flower Agate / Cherry Blossom Agate
- Green Quartz
- High-clarity quartz with golden needle-like inclusions
- Included Quartz
- Jasper
Sub-entries (1)
- Madeira Citrine
- Malachite Agate
- Morion / very dark Smoky Quartz
- Moss Agate
- Moss Chalcedony
- Multi-inclusion Quartz
- Onyx (banded chalcedony)
- Phantom Quartz
- Prase
- Prasiolite / Green Quartz
- Quartz Cat’s-eye
- Quartz claimed to be from the Himalayas
- Quartz Crystal
- Quartz with dark needle-like inclusions
- Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions
- Quartz with flower-like inclusions
- Quartz with golden needle-like inclusions
- Quartz with green needle-like inclusions
- Quartzite Jade
- Quartzose Jade
- Red Agate
- Rock Crystal
- Rose Quartz
- Rutilated Quartz
- Sard
- Sardonyx
- Silicified Asbestos
Sub-entries (2)
- Hawk’s Eye
- Tiger’s Eye
Sub-entries (1)
- Smoky Quartz
- Smoky Quartz (brown variety)
- Strawberry Quartz
- Yellow-green Quartz
- Agate
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| 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 Quartz Crystal 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.