What Does Smoky Quartz Look Like?

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Quartz has many different varieties available.  One such popular variety is smoky quartz.  Smoky quartz looks much like any other type of quartz crystal but with some slight variations.

Smoky quartz is not rare and can be found in many places throughout the world.  Due to its abundance it can be quite affordable to purchase and is often an inclusion to one’s rock and mineral collection.

Characteristics of what Smoky Quartz Looks Like

With smoky quartz being a variety of quartz, it can often be difficult to identify from other types of quartz.  This is due to these varieties having the same identifying features.  You can visually identify smoky quartz by the following looks it will have:

  • Its grayish to blackish color:  Smoky quartz is most identifiable by its color, it can be a very lightly set brownish-gray or brownish-yellowish to a plain grayish color.  Sometimes it is almost clear but has that slight tint in color that makes it not clear.  It can also often be in darker browns to almost black in color.
  • It has six visual sides:  Most quartz crystals will have a six sided structure.  The sides are not really very uniform, but if you count them, you will generally find six sides.
  • There is a terminating point:  If the crystal is not broken, it will have a terminating point.  In general there will be six sides as well to this point.  Generally the point is not very un-uniform and seeing all sides can be difficult.
  • It can be in a matrix:  Quartz crystals are often found in clusters on its host rock.  If you find individual crystals, they have likely broken off their matrix. 

Many people often sell glass crystals under the deception of it being smoky quartz or other forms of quartz.  One of the best ways to identify quartz from glass is to look closely or use a magnifying glass.  If you see small bubbles in the crystal, it is glass.

Smoky quartz can often be heat treated to enhance its color.  Lighter smoky quartz will be heat treated to give it the darker more rich color.

Smoky Quartz: This is a nice specimen of a smoky quartz cluster still intact on its matrix

 

Different Looking Smoky Quartz Varieties

There are really not any named varieties of smoky quartz.  It is generally just called smoky quartz.  However, smoky quartz does come in various hues of its brownish, yellowish, and black colors. Some different looking smoky quartz varieties will include:

  • Hazy Smoky Quartz:  Some smokey quartz is very translucent and clear, however there is some slight hazy color to it.  You almost want to call it clear quartz, but in fact it is smoky quartz.   
  • Dark Smoky Quartz:  This form of quartz is quite dark in color.  It looks very black and maybe a hint of dark brown.  
  • Yellowish-Brownish Smoky Quartz:  Though you don’t see this one as often as the dark smoky quartz, this variety can be a bit of a yellowish-brownish color in the crystal.  This yellow-brown can vary in deeper color to lighter color.

The Different Look Between Smoky Quartz and Clear Quartz

The only identifiable looking difference between smoky quartz and clear quartz is the color of the quartz.  Smoky quartz has some hint of color in the crystal, where clear quartz does not have any visible color at all.  Clear quartz has a transparent colorless look that resembles glass.

Smoky Quartz vs Clear Quartz:  Here is a great example of the visual difference of smoky quartz (Bottom) and clear quartz (Top).

The Different Look Between Smoky Quartz and Citrine

The best identifiable looking difference between smoky quartz and citrine is the color of the quartz.  Smoky quartz will never take on the yellow color that citrine has.  Though some smoky quartz can have a brownish-yellowish appearance, it will not have the crisp yellow color that citrine has.

For more information and pictures of citrine for comparison to smoky quartz, see my article here “All About Citrine”. Some smoky quartz can really look like it might be yellow like citrine.

The Different Look Between Smoky Quartz and Amethyst

The only identifiable looking difference between smoky quartz and Amethyst is the color of the quartz.  Smoky quartz will not have the color “purple”.  Amethyst will have different hues of purple where smokey quartz will be grayish-brown, yellowish-brown, and dark brown to black.

For more information and pictures of amethyst for comparison to smoky quartz, see my article here “All About Amethyst”.

The Different look Between Smoky Quartz and Rose Quartz

The main identifiable looking difference between smoky quartz and rose quartz is the color of the quartz.  Smoky quartz will not have the “pink” color.  Rose quartz will have different hues of pink where smokey quartz will be grayish-brown, yellowish-brown, and dark brown to black.

Conclusion

Smoky quartz is quite special due to its colors of grayish-brown, to yellowish-brown, to even dark browns and black.  Its colors are what set it apart from other quartz crystals such as citrine and amethyst.  

If you are interested in purchasing some smoky quartz, be wary.  There are many fakes out there and often much of smoky quartz is heat treated to enhance its color.  I am not too picky about a heat treated quartz crystal to enhance its color, but I definitely do not like how many fakes are being sold out there.

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