8.08 ct. 'Pink Fire' Quartz with Covellite
Color: Colorless
Clarity: Moderately Included
Origin: Brazil
Cut: Pear Cabochon
Treatments: None
Measurements: 15.5 x 12.2 mm
A very fine example of one of the most interesting Quartz inclusion gems found in the last several years. From a very limited find in Brazil comes this Quartz with platelet-type inclusions of the mineral Covellite. What is truly phenomenal about this particular combination is that while Covellite is metallic in transmitted light, it has a bright pink flash in reflected light - so, as you move the gem a strong pink flash moves across the surface. A very unusual and attractive natural effect. Not surprisingly, gems from this locality have been given the name of 'Pink Fire' Quartz - an apt trade name.
The orientation of the flash and cutting are both particularly good in this stone - the pink flash is not at all hard to elucidate and generally moves across the entire surface - the movement is somewhat like a star in this example. Much of the find was nowhere near as nice as this example and even that has now essentially evaporated from the market.