Phantom Quartz Tower 80mm — Large Ghost Crystal, Brazil

A large polished phantom quartz tower, 80mm tall and 278g, the ghost outline visible within clear quartz rather than one of the more strongly coloured phantom varieties.

Why do some phantoms show up in colour, like the well known green chlorite variety, while others appear as a faint outline in otherwise clear quartz? It comes down to what mineral happened to be settling on the crystal's surface during the pause. Green phantoms form from chlorite, red from hematite, and white from dolomite or clay, but if very little mineral dust was present, or if it was extremely fine, the phantom shows as a subtle change in the quartz itself, sometimes fainter and requiring the right light to see clearly. A large piece like this, at 278g, needed sustained stable conditions for the crystal to grow to this size around its phantom layer. Phantom quartz is traditionally associated with growth and moving through emotional stagnation.

A closer look

The phantom itself is not a separate crystal placed inside, it is an exact record of this same crystal's shape at the moment its growth paused, later grown over and sealed in as conditions changed and crystallization resumed. This piece was sourced from Brazil.

• Stone: Phantom quartz, polished tower point
• Size: 50mm wide, 80mm high
• Weight: 278g
• Origin: Brazil

Living with your phantom quartz

A tower this size makes a genuine display piece, a shelf or desk with good light lets the phantom show itself clearly. Quartz is hard and water safe, so a wipe with a damp cloth and a dry buff keeps it looking its best.

Please note: crystals are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Keep small pieces away from young children.