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

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions

A trade name for Quartz with fine, hair-like inclusions. The inclusion mineral and whether the stone is treated vary from piece to piece, and a colour word in the name does not prove what the inclusions are. 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

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

Rabbit-hair quartz is a trade name for quartz with fine, densely packed 'rabbit fur'-like inclusions that give a soft, fibrous look. The host is quartz (SiO2); the fine inclusions are trapped during growth, aligned along growth layers and in the crystal growth direction. Because the inclusions may be needle-like crystals of various minerals or complex fluids, and some material in the trade may be treated, the exact inclusion species and treatment status of 'rabbit-hair quartz' require case-by-case testing. The available authoritative sources do not define this trade name; they provide only the generic mechanism of inclusion-bearing quartz.

Scope: Used to explain the inclusion-trapping mechanism of quartz with fine inclusions (trade names of the rabbit-hair quartz type); no determination is made of the mineral species of the inclusions or of treatment status.

Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Spring 2023 · G&G Fall 2024

Where it forms

Open cavities or vein pockets where quartz grows from silica-bearing fluids.

Sources G&G Fall 2024

Hydrothermal system: inclusions are trapped as the quartz grows and may be multi-component fluids.

Sources G&G Fall 2024

How it forms, step by step

  1. Silica-bearing fluids feed quartz growth in an open cavity.

    Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
  2. Fine needle-like minerals or fluid inclusions are captured by growth faces.

    Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
  3. Inclusions align densely along growth layers and the growth direction, producing the fine 'rabbit hair' look.

    Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Fall 2024
  4. Whether the stone is treated, and what the inclusions are, must be tested on the individual sample.

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

Link to appearance

Fine, dense inclusions aligned along the growth direction give a soft fur-like look; inclusion thickness, density and colour control the appearance.

Sources G&G Spring 2023

Timescale

The available authoritative sources give no growth duration or absolute age for rabbit-hair quartz.

Sources G&G Spring 2017 · G&G Spring 2023 · 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

The fine inclusions of rabbit-hair quartz are primary inclusions trapped during quartz growth, aligned along growth layers and the growth direction.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Concerns the trapping mechanism; does not assert a specific inclusion species.

Sources G&G Fall 2024

How it is identified

The colour and inclusion appearance of 'rabbit-hair-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

Other research findings

Rabbit-hair quartz is a trade name for quartz with fine hair-like inclusions, not a mineralogical name; its inclusion species and treatment vary and are authoritatively unsettled.

Evidence grade C

Scope: A naming-boundary judgement; sources cover only the trade material of quartz with needle-like inclusions.

Sources G&G Spring 2017

Inclusions in quartz can be multi-component fluids (e.g., petroleum, methane, asphaltite and water), not necessarily a single mineral implied by the appearance.

Evidence grade A

Scope: An example of quartz fluid-inclusion composition; makes no specific claim about rabbit-hair quartz inclusions.

Sources G&G Spring 2023

The available authoritative sources do not address whether 'rabbit-hair quartz' is treated; its treatment status cannot be confirmed from them and requires testing.

Evidence grade C

Scope: States uncertainty about treatment; does not deny that some samples may be untreated.

Sources G&G Spring 2017

Limits of this research

  • Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
  • 'Rabbit-hair quartz' is a trade name; inclusion species and treatment status are unsupported by authoritative sources, so those claims are rated C.
  • No growth duration or absolute age.

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
Quartz with hair-like inclusions (state the colour and the identified 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

"Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions (trade name: Rabbit-hair Quartz)" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Trade name rather than a mineralogical species name. Laboratory identification required before the name is used.

What this means for you

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

Known uncertainty

Last reviewed
2026-09-01

Trade-name ruling

  • Trade name rather than a mineralogical species name.
  • Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
Suggested listing name
Quartz with hair-like inclusions (state the colour and the identified 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.

TreatmentMarket frequency (CIBJO)Stability (CIBJO)GB/T 16552 categoryJJA/AGL listingIdentification 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 Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions in non-Latin scripts: 8 with no restriction recorded on use as a name.

Chinese standard nameThe name of Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions is not listed in the text of GB/T 16552—2017, and the corresponding basic name is rock crystal. Names in four languagesAmong the four-language names, the Simplified and Traditional Chinese names are identical, the Japanese name is a market name, and the English describes quartz with fine fibrous inclusions, with the trade name Rabbit-hair Quartz; the mineralogical name describes quartz with fine hair-like inclusions, with the inclusion mineral and treatment varying. Trade and mineralogical namesRed, yellow, green, blue and white rabbit-hair, blue rabbit-hair quartz, silver hair quartz and red hair quartz are registered as common market names; red hair quartz and silver hair quartz are also linked to the high-risk names strawberry quartz, green hair quartz and black hair quartz, because the inclusions are not one fixed mineral. Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name is quartz with rabbit-hair-like inclusions (state colour and inclusion identification). Institution usageThe wording of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A for Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions is not yet verified by this site, and the entry's own English name does not represent their position; the qualification stripped from the heading name is the trade name Rabbit-hair Quartz, taken from the entry's own English name. Japanese namesThe Japanese name shown is the entry's own market name, and the GSJ (Japan) 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.

NameTypeMatchingUse as a nameBasis
no restriction recorded (8)
白兔毛Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
红兔毛Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
红发晶Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Strawberry quartz, green hair quartz, black hair quartz”: the inclusions are not one fixed mineral.
绿兔毛Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
蓝兔毛Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
蓝兔毛水晶Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
银发晶Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Strawberry quartz, green hair quartz, black hair quartz”: the inclusions are not one fixed mineral.
黄兔毛Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)

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

Authority wording

GIA, FTC, CIBJO, Gem-A
Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions (not yet checked by this site — the entry's own English name is shown)
GSJ (Japan) formal name
ラビットヘア・クォーツ(市場名) (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 with fine hair-like inclusions; inclusion mineral and treatment vary

Four-language names

简体中文
兔毛水晶
繁體中文
兔毛水晶
English
Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions (trade name: Rabbit-hair Quartz)
日本語
ラビットヘア・クォーツ(市場名)

Qualifiers stripped from the headline name

  • GIA, FTC, CIBJO, Gem-A (not yet checked; this qualifier is part of the entry's own English name): (trade name: Rabbit-hair Quartz)

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: inclusion / visual-effect descriptor
Mineral chemical class
Silicates
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Treatments listed by standards

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions is mapped by applying the “Quartz” row of GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1: heating is listed as optimization; irradiation as optimization; filling is defined by grades; dyeing is listed as treatment; and coating as treatment. The full row including the effect column is on the Quartz page, and what Table B.1 notes and how the filling grades are defined are explained on this site's 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 recorded for Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions under materials and identification take values by the cited clause's class: whole-class features such as chemical composition, fluorescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum and magnification are written in the cited clause for rock crystal (the whole class) and are not repeated item by item; see the material facts on the Rock Crystal entry. Under the clause for rock crystal (the whole class), Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions is crystalline and trigonal, with hexagonal prismatic crystals bearing distinct horizontal striations on the prism faces; Mohs hardness 7, cleavage none; optic character 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; chatoyancy may be seen, and asterism may be seen as a six-rayed star, mostly in rose quartz. Under the same clause, density is 2.64–2.69 g/cm³, derived from the cited clause value 2.66 with tolerance +0.03/−0.02; when untreated, pleochroism is weak and varies with colour, and lustre is vitreous. CIBJO glosses it as chatoyancy and asterism.

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 with fine fibrous inclusions 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 with fine fibrous inclusions (how to read class-level values).

Structure

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — Mohs hardness: 7

GB/T 16553—2017

123456789107References (diamond = value, bar = range; below)

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

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — density: 2.64–2.69 g/cm³

GB/T 16553—2017

0.51.52.53.54.55.56.57.52.64–2.69
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: chatoyancyrepresentative example: cause in Tiger’s Eye (schematic)asterismrepresentative example: cause in Star Sapphire (schematic)

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — refractive index: 1.544–1.553

GB/T 16553—2017

1.31.72.12.52.93.31.544–1.553
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

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions — birefringence: 0.009

GB/T 16553—2017

00.050.10.150.20.250.30.009
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

Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — 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 with fine fibrous inclusions — 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.

1.531.541.551.561.571.582.52.62.72.82.9Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Quartz with fine fibrous…

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)1.41.51.61.71.81.922.12.22.32.41234567Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions

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 “Rabbit Hair Quartz” in chapter 7; scope set by §7.1.1 “Gemstone” definition (Gemstones encompass) · Source

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 with fine fibrous inclusions) is marked.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

PageContentStatus
Browsing familyQuartz and chalcedony materialsLive
Treatments recorded for this materialHeated / 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 articlesTo be added (placeholder)Planned

Who maintains this page

The material facts in the Quartz with fine fibrous inclusions 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