A method of fabricating carbon nanotube bundles clad in a quartz sheath with high temperature and chemical resistance contains the steps of providing carbon nanotube sample in powder form which is vacuum-sealed within a quartz tube sheath and then heated to the softening temperature of quartz followed by quickly quenching to room temperature while simultaneously extending or “drawing” the quartz tube along its major axis so that the carbon is extended into nanotube form and the surrounding quartz tube is reduced.