Madagascan Rainbow Girasol Quartz Standing Display Freeform - 151mm, 1600g

Madagascan Rainbow Girasol Quartz Standing Display Freeform - 151mm, 1600g

Regular price £265.00 Sale

Locality - Madagascar
Size – 151 x 103 x 53mm
Weight – 1600g

This girasol quartz standing freeform displays gorgeous opal-like, semi-translucent moon grey colouration with large, shiny and silvery internal reflective veils, some of which display impressive, vivid rainbows when viewed in strong lighting (as photographed). This unusual stone is rarely seen in large pieces or as display freeforms such as this one, making it a truly unique and eye-catching addition to a crystal collection.


About Girasol Quartz & Rose Quartz

Girasol quartz is named after a type of opal of the same name, though is technically a white variety of rose quartz, and is known by many other names including 'moon quartz', 'pearl quartz' and 'blue opal quartz', sometimes incorrectly described as a variety of opal. The word comes from the Italian 'girasole', meaning to 'turn towards the Sun', and originally referred to a milky blue glass first produced in Venice during the Renaissance. In appearance girasol quartz is a clear, translucent white or very pale pink with a subtle blue glow caused by its aluminium content, and may occasionally show internal reflective veils or rainbows, or star reflections on its surface. It is found exclusively in Madagascar alongside some of the finest rose quartz worldwide.

Rose quartz is a translucent pink, blue or clear variety of quartz found most commonly in masses made of intergrown microscopic crystals or rarely as well-formed, visible crystals. Its hazy to translucent character is due to microscopic fibrous inclusions of a pink borosilicate mineral related to dumortierite within it. Rose quartz may show asterism when cut and polished as a dome, similar to what is seen in certain sapphires, in a 4 to 6 ray star reflection on the surface; this variety is known as 'star rose quartz' and is highly desirable for use in cabochons and spheres.


A note on Fakes, Treatments & Misrepresentations

Due to the fact girasol quartz itself is named after a variety of opal similar in appearance, it is often incorrectly described as a variety of opal, and whilst 'girasol quartz' is an accepted trade name, 'girasol opal' is not. The name is appropriate as long as buyers are presented with the correct mineralogical information and are aware that the gemstone is a quartz and not an opal. Synthetic opalite is sometimes sold under the name 'girasol', yet it is simply an opalized glass or plastic and is easily recognized as so from its unnaturally uniform milky blue glow and lack of inclusions.