What's That Rock?Smoky quartz
Also called: cairngorm, morion
Brown to nearly black quartz. The color comes from natural radiation acting on tiny amounts of aluminum in the crystal.
How to identify Smoky quartz
- Brown-gray quartz crystals, transparent to dark
- Glassy luster, hardness 7
- Six-sided crystals are common
Often confused with
- Brown glass
- Axinite
- Andalusite
- Tourmalinedark
Real or fake?
- Some dark quartz is made darker by artificial irradiation; testing is only possible in a lab
- Glass imitations may show bubbles
Is Smoky quartz valuable?
Common and inexpensive.
Typical retail prices
Tumbled stone$2–6each
Rough$5–25per pound
Collector specimen$10–150each
Cut gemstone$3–15per carat
Typical retail ranges in US dollars, compiled from public dealer and marketplace listings in October 2026. Real prices vary widely with quality, size and origin. This is general information, not an appraisal.
What changes the price
- Color: deep, even brown or near-black with clarity costs more
- Natural or treated: most deep dark stones are irradiated, which is accepted but lowers collector value
- Crystal quality: sharp, glossy points and large clusters cost more
- Cut stones are inexpensive per carat
Uses
- Jewelry and carvings
Care
Safe to wash. Avoid high heat, which can lighten the color.
Identifying a stone from a description or a photo is an estimate. Many stones look alike. Ask an expert or a gem lab before you buy, sell or rely on an identification.
Updated October 2026