Green quartz: prasiolite, aventurine or dyed? Identification and care

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“Green quartz” is a trade name covering prasiolite, quartz with green chlorite or mica inclusions, dyed or irradiated quartz, and even glass.

Key points

Colour	pale green to deep green
Mineral family	quartz, SiO2 (when it really is quartz)
Crystal system	trigonal
Hardness (Mohs)	7
Density	2.65
Materials sold under this name	prasiolite (heated amethyst), chlorite or green-mica quartz, dyed quartz, glass
Cause of the natural colour	traces of iron (prasiolite) or green inclusions (chlorite, fuchsite)
Known deposits	Brazil, Mexico (Montezuma), Poland (prasiolite); many countries for quartz with inclusions
Precautions	colour sometimes unstable (heating, dyeing)

What is green quartz?

“Green quartz” is a trade name, not a mineral species. It covers several materials, all based on quartz (SiO2, hardness 7), but very different from one another. The main ones are:

Prasiolite (“green amethyst”): a pale green quartz coloured by traces of iron. It occurs naturally, but rarely; most of what is sold is heated amethyst (see prasiolite). Natural deposits are known in Mexico and in Poland (Lower Silesia).
Quartz with green inclusions: quartz containing chlorite (a green mineral of the mica group) or chromium-bearing green mica, fuchsite. When fuchsite is the inclusion, the stone is called green aventurine. The green is in the mass, often as glitter or clouds.
Treated quartz: quartz irradiated or heated to obtain a green colour (a common treatment).
Dyed quartz: cracked quartz impregnated with a green dye, very vivid.
Glass: manufactured green glass, sold under misleading names.

Without laboratory analysis, it is hard to know where the colour of a coloured quartz comes from. At a minimum, ask the seller for the material and any treatments.

Green quartz and chlorite: the “green ghost quartz”

A quartz crystal can contain layers of chlorite (a soft green mineral from the phyllosilicate family) that were deposited while it was growing. Crystals with green zones shaped like a ghost or a garden are called “green ghost quartz” or, when they show landscape-like patterns, garden quartz (lodolite). They come in particular from Brazil. The colour is natural and stable, but the quartz itself is colourless or only lightly tinted: only the green of the inclusion is visible.

Traditional symbolism

Green is the colour of plants, of spring and of growth. Modern crystal books link green quartz with growth, renewal, nature and emotional balance. “Green amethyst” (prasiolite) is sometimes associated with serenity.

These ideas are modern conventions based on colour. No study has shown any effect of the stone on mood or money. A green object placed in a room may simply serve as a reminder of nature or of a project of renewal.

Area	Correspondence cited
Chakra	heart
Element	earth or water, depending on the author
Signs	Taurus, Virgo, Libra (varies)
Keywords	growth, renewal, nature

How to use it

As jewellery: faceted stones or beads. Its hardness of 7 suits regular wear (guide).
As decoration: points, spheres, clusters of chlorite quartz placed near a plant.
As a pocket stone: a green tumbled stone to hold in your hand.
In meditation: place the stone in front of you and think of a natural place where you feel good (tutorial).

Cleaning and cleansing

Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft cloth. Dyed quartz should not be soaked.
Sun and heat: avoid for prasiolite and for treated or dyed quartz: the colour can fade. Quartz with chlorite inclusions does not mind light.
Knocks: quartz is hard but breaks along its edges.
Symbolic cleansing: smoke, sound, moonlight (guide).

Recognising what you are being sold

Sign	Prasiolite or quartz with inclusions	Dyed or glass
Colour	pale green (prasiolite) or green localised in inclusions	vivid, even green
Interior	fractures, veils, cloud-like inclusions	colour concentrated in cracks (dye); round bubbles (glass)
Hardness	7	5 to 6 for glass
Price	modest to moderate	very low

A low-priced “green quartz” of intense green is most often dyed or irradiated. The words “treated” or “dyed” should appear on the label. See how to read a treated-stone label, real or fake stone and our commitments.

How to choose

Ask the seller for the exact nature of the stone: prasiolite (natural or heated), quartz with chlorite, aventurine, treated or dyed quartz. Each has its place, as long as the name is honest. A natural prasiolite of fine colour is rare and expensive; heated amethyst is affordable. Quartz with green inclusions is very inexpensive.

For greens from another family, see green aventurine, peridot or fluorite. Pairings: with citrine quartz or rock crystal. To care for all your stones, read our guide.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is green quartz?

A trade name: it can refer to prasiolite, quartz with green inclusions, treated or dyed quartz, or glass. There is no mineral species called “green quartz”.

Is prasiolite natural?

It does occur naturally (Mexico, Poland), but rarely. Most prasiolite sold is heated amethyst.

What is the difference between green quartz and green aventurine?

Green aventurine is quartz containing glittering flakes of green mica (fuchsite). “Green quartz” can refer to many other materials.

Does green quartz tolerate sunlight?

Prasiolite and treated or dyed quartz can fade. Quartz with chlorite inclusions does not mind light.

How can I tell whether a green quartz is dyed?

A very vivid, even colour concentrated in the cracks is a clue. Ask for the treatment disclosure; only a laboratory can confirm it.