Phantom quartz usually occurs in rock crystal, but is also found in smoky quartz, citrine, and amethyst. Rock crystal is transparent and colorless quartz.

 

It commonly occurs inside quartz veins where it crystallizes in rock cavities known as vugs or pockets Phantom quartz crystal shapes can sometimes be seen in the interior of quartz crystals, outlining an earlier stage of the crystal's formation.

 

 

These phantoms are usually composed of other minerals such as chlorite, goethite or hematite are composed of other varieties of quartz such as milky quartz, smoky quartz or even amethyst which form on most or all of the surfaces of the quartz crystal at a particular point in time during its growth, after which the quartz crystal resumes its crystallization enclosing the phantom crystal outline within itself.

Phantom quartz is recognized by its characteristic phantom crystal within itself. It can be identified as quartz by its crystal habit, transparency, hardness, and glassy luster.

 

 

 

Phantom Quartz