What is Aura Rainbow Quartz and How Is It Made?

What Is Rainbow Aura Quartz?

Aura quartz is a type of quartz that has been enhanced with a combination of titanium and niobium. This process, called vacuum deposition, creates an iridescent metallic sheen on the surface of the crystal. Aura quartz is available in a variety of colors, including gold, silver, rainbow, and opal.

Metal-coated crystals are natural crystals, such as quartz, whose surface has been coated with metal to give them an iridescent metallic sheen.

Crystals treated this way are used as gemstones and for other decorative purposes. Possible coatings include gold (resulting in a stone called aqua aura), indium, titanium, niobium and copper. Other names for crystals treated so include; angel aura, flame aura, opal aura or rainbow quartz.

What is Aura Rainbow Quartz and How Is It Made?

Aura Quartz Crystal Cluster

How is aura crystal made?

Aqua aura is created in a vacuum chamber from quartz crystals and gold vapour by vapour deposition. The quartz is heated to 871 °C (1600 °F) in a vacuum, and then gold vapor is added to the chamber.

Aura quartz is made through a process called vacuum deposition. In this process, the quartz crystal is placed in a vacuum chamber and heated to a high temperature. A vaporized metal, such as titanium or niobium, is then introduced into the chamber and deposited onto the surface of the crystal. The metal bonds to the crystal and creates an iridescent metallic sheen.

The color of the aura quartz depends on the type of metal that is used. Gold aura quartz is created using gold, silver aura quartz is created using silver, rainbow aura quartz is created using a combination of titanium and niobium, and opal aura quartz is created using niobium.

The brilliant color of flame aura is the result of optical interference effects produced by layers of titanium. Since only electricity is used to deposit the titanium layers and create these colors, very little heat is involved and the integrity of the crystal is maintained. The crystal does not become brittle or prone to breakage as with other treatments.

Here are the steps on how aura quartz is made:

The quartz crystal is cleaned and polished.
The crystal is placed in a vacuum chamber.
The chamber is evacuated to remove all air.
The crystal is heated to a high temperature.
A vaporized metal, such as titanium or niobium, is introduced into the chamber.
The metal bonds to the surface of the crystal.
The crystal is cooled.
The crystal is removed from the chamber.

$Top row starting from the left moving right is titanium Quartz, lemon Quartz, sunshine aura Quartz, rose aura Quartz , ruby aura Quartz.\$

Top row starting from the left moving right is titanium Quartz,
lemon Quartz, sunshine aura Quartz, rose aura Quartz , ruby aura Quartz.
Credit: Nathan Almeyda

Titanium Quartz

Angel Aura Spirit Quartz
Credit: Daniel Virgadaula