Comparison · Materials vs Quartz Family
Aura Quartz vs Quartz
Aura Quartz and Quartz are easy to confuse. Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Aura Quartz and Quartz
- Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Streak color differs: Aura Quartz leaves a white to colorless streak on unglazed porcelain, Quartz leaves white.
- Luster is different: Aura Quartz is metallic while Quartz is vitreous, greasy on fracture surfaces.
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Aura Quartz is translucent, Quartz is Transparent to translucent.
- They overlap in yellow and purple, but Aura Quartz also comes in multicolored and blue and Quartz also comes in clear, pink, black, gray, and brown.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Aura Quartz is hexagonal, Quartz is Trigonal.
Aura Quartz vs Quartz properties
| Property | Aura Quartz | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Materials | Quartz Family |
| Mohs hardness | 7 | 7 |
| Luster | metallic | Vitreous, greasy on fracture surfaces |
| Streak | White to colorless | White |
| Transparency | translucent | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Crystal system | hexagonal | Trigonal |
| Common colors | Iridescent, Blue, Rainbow, Gold, Purple | Colorless, White, Purple (amethyst), Yellow (citrine), Pink (rose), Brown/black (smoky) |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $5–$180+ | $5–$250+ |
Which is more valuable?
Quartz is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $35 against $25 for Aura Quartz, and premium Quartz can reach $250 or more.
About Aura Quartz
Aura Quartz is treated quartz with a thin metallic coating that creates bright blue, rainbow, or iridescent surface color.
About Quartz
Quartz is silicon dioxide, SiO2, one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust, crystallizing in the trigonal division of the hexagonal crystal system with a hardness of 7 that makes it a standard reference point on the Mohs scale. Its six-sided prismatic crystals, often terminated by pyramidal points, are among the most recognizable crystal shapes in mineralogy. Quartz occurs in nearly every rock type and geologic setting, from granite pegmatites to sedimentary sandstones to hydrothermal veins.
Aura Quartz vs Quartz FAQ
Is Aura Quartz the same as Quartz?
No. Aura Quartz is a material while Quartz is a quartz family. Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
How can you tell Aura Quartz from Quartz?
Both sit near Mohs 7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Streak color differs: Aura Quartz leaves a white to colorless streak on unglazed porcelain, Quartz leaves white. Luster is different: Aura Quartz is metallic while Quartz is vitreous, greasy on fracture surfaces.
Which is harder, Aura Quartz or Quartz?
They are about equally hard, both near Mohs 7.
Which is more valuable, Aura Quartz or Quartz?
Quartz is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $35 against $25 for Aura Quartz, and premium Quartz can reach $250 or more.
