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Gallery 6 Quartz Specimens |
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Q-472 faden Quartz with Smectite $65 Wana, South Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan 6.5 x 2.4 x .7 cm Faden Quartz crystals from Pakistan have been around for a while but are almost never seen associated with other minerals. I acquired a couple dozen of these colorful specimens at the 2008 Springfield Mineral show. I was a little skeptical about the blue mineral present on the specimens, having been told that it was Smectite. A quick visit to Alfredo Petrov's booth resulted in him stating that it could be Smectite, although neither one of us had seen such vividly colored examples of this mineral. After testing the specimen to ensure that the specimen had not been dyed, I then sent a sample to John Attard for XRD analysis. He confirmed that it was indeed Smectite. This specimen represents one of the best Faden Quartz mineral associations from Pakistan. This crystal in addition to exhibiting the "faden" habit, is also a little bit curved in form.
Q-464 Amethyst $50 Djurkovo Mine, Djurkovo Complex, Laki, Laki Obshtina, Plovdiv Oblast, Bulgaria 8.9 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm This specimen features many double-terminated and clear Quartz crystals showing faint Amethyst phantoms. This cluster of Quartz is almost a floater with just a small area of contact on its bottom, just below the fattest crystal.
Q-471 Amethyst $125 Entia Valley, Ambalindum Station, Harts Range, Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australia 7.8 x 7 x 4.6 cm This specimen is a great example of Amethyst from what many consider to be Australia's premier Quartz locality. This crystal has a rich, deep-purple hue with broad flashes of red. There are also areas of smoky color and there are some inclusions of clay (as shown in the far-left photo) as well, making for a pleasing contrast of colors. The lustre of this Amethyst is very glassy, almost mirror-like. The crystal is doubly terminated with no damage save for a sub-millimeter-sized area of wear on its termination.
Q-466 Quartz with Papagoite inclusions & Epidote $60 Messina Mine, Messina, Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa 3.1 x 2.1 x 1.5 cm The Messina mine is famous for the included Quartz specimens it has produced. The Ajoite or Papagoite included Quartz crystals from this location are often covered with a crust of Epidote, Hematite & other minerals, obscuring the copper mineral(s) included inside. Unpolished examples of included Quartz from Messina, such as this one, are almost unheard of. This crystal is complete with just a small area of contact on its rear.
Q-449 Smoky Quartz with fuid inclusion $40 Glenwood, Pike County, Arkansas 5.8 x 3.5 x 2.8 cm. Naturally occurring Smoky Quartz from Arkansas is extremely rare. This glassy and transparent crystal is a complete, all-around floater and is pristine. The contacted, flat base is damage-free. As a bonus this crystal also has a fluid inclusion with a gas bubble as indicated by the arrow marked on the side. This Quartz crystal was collected in 1939-40 by Glenn H. Hodson who, years later, became a mineral dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona. Double-terminated Smoky Quartz crystals of this quality from the Ouachita Mountains, not Hot Springs, are rarely available.
Q-468 Quartz variety Eisenkiesel on Fluorite $45 Johannesschacht
Mine, Schwarzach bei Nabburg, Wölsendorf East District 6.6 x 5.4 x 6.1 cm Here we have an example of iron-included Quartz, known in German as “Eisenkiesel”. The Quartz crystals sit on a matrix of coarsely-crystalized Fluorite, variety “Stink-Fluss”. Stink-Fluss is a variety of Fluorite, especially from Wölsendorf, Germany, that emits an odor and ozone upon grinding due to the internal presence of free fluorine and calcium and the interaction of those components with water upon grinding. Despite its name it won't stink up your mineral cabinet. An unusual pair of mineral oddities. Several of the quartz points show a little wear but does not detract from the specimen's appearance.
Q-469 Citrine SOLD Mansa District, Luapula Province, Zambia 7.9 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm Natural Citrine Quartz crystals are uncommon worldwide. This elongated, tapered, water-clear crystal has a smoky-amber color and lightly frosted faces. There is a little wear on the termination (typical for this location due to poor collecting practices) but does not detract from the overall look of the specimen.
Q-459 Quartz with Clinozoisite $60 Clinton Keith Road, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA 6.4 x 2.9 x 2.1 cm A Quartz crystal that is heavily coated by crystals of Clinozoisite in groups and as singles. The Quartz is clear and is doubly-terminated, albeit crudely. Q-429 Quartz (modified by lightning) $40 Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil 8.6 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm. This is a Quartz crystal that, inside the rock where it was formed, was submitted to a high electrical voltage created by lightning hitting the rock (not the Quartz crystal). Due to its piezoelectrical properties, the Quartz crystal submitted to this high voltage will expand or contract (depending on the signal of the electrical field, positive or negative). The result is a weird crack pattern that develops on the crystals faces of the Quartz. There is a paper about these type of crystals that was published by Prof. Joachim Karfunkel et. al., from University of Minas Gerais, who found the explanation for these weird crack patterns.
Q-443 Amethyst cast after Calcite $95 Artigas, Artigas Department, Uruguay 7.5 x 4.1 x 3.5 cm. Here we have a complete all-around Amethyst cast after Calcite. This specimen consists of a tower of numerous medium-purple Amethyst crystals. If you look up the bottom of the specimen you will see the sharp, pseudohexagonal form of the dissolved Calcite crystal. The Calcite was completely etched away by corrosive solutions in the pocket, leaving the Amethyst. These specimens are one of nature's better looking mineral oddities.
Q-439 Quartz on Hematite pseudomorph after Epidote $60 Bessemer Ridge, Green Mountain, King County, WA 6.6 x 2 x 1.7 cm. The pseudomorph specimens from this location have always been one of my favorites. They consist of an Epidote crystal that has been entirely replaced with Hematite faithfully retaining its original form. A later generation of Quartz crystals then grew on the faces of the pseudomorph. You almost never see these Quartz covered pseudomorphs offered for sale anymore.
Q-442 Rose Quartz on Quartz $135 Taquaral, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil 7.1 x 4.5 x 4 cm. This specimen features Rose Quartz of good color capping a well-formed, prismatic crystal of Quartz. In the middle of one of the terminal faces a brown-colored inclusion can be seen; perhaps one of the phosphate minerals found there. Rose quartz is very rare in good crystals, and is the most prized of the Quartz varietals.
Q-428 Smoky Quartz SOLD Refuge de la Charpoua, Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France 6.5 x 2.2 x 1.6 cm. A very lustrous and clear left-handed Smoky Quartz crystal from the French Alps. This crystal has several unusual crystal faces near the termination. The French Alps, especially the Chamonix area, are renowned for the superb Alpine Quartz specimens.
Q-174 Quartz with Actinolite inclusions $120 Mega Horio, Serifos Island, Kykládes Prefecture, Greece 6.2 x 4.5 x 2 cm. After Laurium, the small island of Serifos (where iron has been mined since Roman times) is probably the most renowned mineral locality in Greece, especially for these world-class specimens of Quartz heavily included by the mineral Actinolite. These crystals are thought to have grown in irregular cavities encompassing the fibrous Actinolite which had formed earlier. These included Quartz specimens were first brought to market in quantity at the 1988 Tucson Mineral Show, being sold as Hedenbergite included Quartz. Since then, only occasional small lots have trickled out into the mineral market afterwards. Demand for these have always been highly sought after due to their rich color. Specimens of these amazing crystals are hard to come by these days.
Q-173 Quartz with Actinolite inclusions $100 Mega Horio, Serifos Island, Kykládes Prefecture, Greece 7.2 x 1.5 x .9 cm. After Laurium, the small island of Serifos (where iron has been mined since Roman times) is probably the most renowned mineral locality in Greece, especially for these world-class specimens of Quartz heavily included by the mineral Actinolite. These crystals are thought to have grown in irregular cavities encompassing the fibrous Actinolite which had formed earlier. These included Quartz specimens were first brought to market in quantity at the 1988 Tucson Mineral Show, being sold as Hedenbergite included Quartz. Since then, only occasional small lots have trickled out into the mineral market afterwards. Demand for these have always been highly sought after due to their rich color. Specimens of these amazing crystals are hard to come by these days.
Q-406 Quartz with Chlorite inclusions $50 Paulista, Presidente Kubitschek, Minas Gerais, Brazil 6.6 x 4.1 x 3.5 cm. Here we have a Chlorite-included Quartz from Brazil that is better than most. This specimen consists of a very gemmy 6.6 centimeter crystal of Quartz that is included with phantoms of green and silvery-white Chlorite. On the rear of the main Quartz is an explosion of smaller Quartz crystals, some of which are included with Chlorite. This specimen is that it is not chipped (as so many seem to be) nor has it been polished to better view the inclusions.
Q-462 Amethyst $65 Iraí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 9.5 x 6.7 x 3 cm As sculptural Amethyst "flower" from Iraí. Although light in coloration, the glassy crystals on this specimen are clear to translucent. This specimen is nearly a floater with only a few small dots of green indicating points of contact on its back.
Q-327 Amethyst SOLD Kingston Range, San Bernardino County, California 5 x 6 x 4.5 cm. Besides looking for new finds when I go to the Tucson Show each year, I'm constantly looking for hard to find material and classic locality specimens. This Amethyst specimen fits into the category of the latter two. This location has been known since the early 1900's when Tiffany & Co. developed this area for Amethyst to use in its jewelry. This is a formidable location to dig at as the Mountain does not give up its treasures easily. This specimen was found in late 2010. A lot of the material from this find has unusual color-zoning, as if it started out as milky Quartz with oriented bands of Amethyst and a final, micro-thin layer of clear Quartz.
Q-405 Quartz with Goethite SOLD Purple Hope No. 4 Claim, Green Ridge, King County, WA 6 x 5 x 3 cm. This fantastic specimen hails from a well-known specimen producing area in King County, Washington. This area is known for its beautiful Pyrite and Quartz specimens. This specimen features sharp, well-formed crystals of Quartz with associated reddish-brown Goethite. This locality is notorious for the difficult conditions that must be endured while collecting.
Q-403 Quartz $40 Purple Hope No. 4 Claim, Green Ridge, King County, WA 7.6 x 3.9 x 3.5 cm. Here we have a gemmy crystal of Quartz from the well-known specimen producing area of King County, Washington. This area is known for its beautiful Pyrite and Quartz specimens. This is a complete crystal with no damage. This locality is notorious for the difficult conditions that must be endured while collecting.
Q-426 Smoky Quartz on Microcline $35 Lolo Pass, Missoula County, MT 5.3 x 4.9 x 3.1 cm. A stout Dauphiné-twinned, 5.3 centimeter Smoky Quartz partially penetrated by a nearly 5 centimeter Smoky Quartz. This crystal has many unique growth lines and patterns on some of the crystal faces. These Smokies from Lolo Pass don't seem to be as abundant as they used to be. Collected in the 1980's by Jim & Dawn Minette.
Q-427 Quartz (scepter crystal) $55 Purple Hope No. 4 Claim, Green Ridge, King County, WA 7.2 x 2.3 x 3 cm. A well-formed and clear scepter-type example of Quartz. This crystal is complete all around with a bifurcated termination. This area is best known for the beautiful Pyrite and Quartz specimens that are found there. This locality is notorious for the difficult conditions that must be endured while collecting.
Q-175 Quartz with Actinolite inclusions $75 Mega Horio, Serifos Island, Kykládes Prefecture, Greece 5.8 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm. After Laurium, the small island of Serifos (where iron has been mined since Roman times) is probably the most renowned mineral locality in Greece, especially for these world-class specimens of Quartz heavily included by the mineral Actinolite. These crystals are thought to have grown in irregular cavities encompassing the fibrous Actinolite which had formed earlier. These included Quartz specimens were first brought to market in quantity at the 1988 Tucson Mineral Show, being sold as Hedenbergite included Quartz. Since then, only occasional small lots have trickled out into the mineral market afterwards. Demand for these have always been highly sought after due to their rich color. Specimens of these amazing crystals are hard to come by these days.
Q-338 Quartz on Smoky Quartz $25 Mount Malosa, Zomba District, Malawi 6.8 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm. Here we have a clear Smoky Quartz crystal that has a peculiar overgrowth of milky Quartz. The brown patch (including some growth hillocks, indicating regrowth) at the rear of the crystal is where it abutted another Quartz crystal during its growth, and it allows us a fine view into the smoky interior. A curious Quartz crystal from a now classic mineral locality.
Q-332 Quartz with Chlorite inclusions $40 Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil 9 x 2.8 x 3 cm. This unusual included Quartz has three faces that are extremely clear and glassy and three that have a more coarse and sandy texture. The glassy surface exhibits a very interesting, tessellating growth pattern. As well as possessing an unusual termination, this specimen has patches of a very soft, blebby dark mineral. When viewed from the bottom, the sectional structure that runs up the length of the crystal is revealed. This specimen is far better in person than in the photos.
Q-333 Quartz with Dravite inclusions $40 Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil 8.2 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm. This Quartz crystal is very gemmy and has many sprays of a gray-blue fibrous mineral, that according to Luiz Menezes has been analyzed and found to be Dravite, included within its termination. An unusual included-Quartz specimen in my opinion.
Q-275 Amethyst-Smoky Quartz scepter $125 Santa Maria do Jetiba, Espírito Santo, Brazil 10 x 6.2 x 4.7 cm. This specimen of scepter Quartz is from a location that produces some very interesting crystals. This crystal has a termination of Amethyst a middle zone that is nearly clear and colorless with a ring of slightly Smoky Quartz at the base of the head of the scepter. The stem of the scepter is translucent and colorless. The termination of this specimen has many interesting-looking growth hillocks. A fine example of scepter Quartz from a country that has a seemingly endless and diverse supply of minerals.
Q-258 Amethyst $55 Osilo, Sassari Province, Sardinia, Italy 9.5 x 6.5 x 3.9 cm. A vuggy specimen of gemmy Amethyst crystals from a classic locality. These gemmy Amethyst specimens from Sardinia were at one time abundant but it has been a while since I've seen any really good examples of this material for sale. The label accompanying this specimen indicates that it was obtained in May of 1973.
Q-391 Rose Quartz on Smoky Quartz $175 Paroon Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan 6 x 3.1 x 2.5 cm. Rose Quartz, while common, is rarely found as crystals, most of which are found in Brazil. This rare specimen is from the small find made in 2002. No more of these spectacular Rose Quartz crystals from Afghanistan have been found since. Most of the Rose Quartz crystals from this find could be measured in millimeters. This specimen features single crystals up to 1.9 cm. in size, making an already rare specimen even more exceptional. Unlike most crystallized Rose Quartz, the Afghani specimens tend to have a lavender-rose hue which in contrast with the Smoky Quartz makes for a very aesthetic specimen.
Q-166 Smoky Quartz SOLD Brig, Valais, Switzerland 4.5 x 2.5 x 2 cm. Here we have a lightly-hued Smoky Quartz with good clarity from a location that is famous for the quality of the Quartz crystals that have been found there. It is very hard and dangerous work collecting crystals in the mineralized clefts of the Swiss Alps. Good examples of Swiss Quartz are hard to come by in the U.S. as they are highly prized by the Strahlers that collect them and are much sought after by European collectors.
Q-168 Smoky Quartz with Chlorite SOLD Brig, Valais, Switzerland 4.5 x 2.5 x 2.3 cm. Here we have a clear crystal of Smoky Quartz with a slight dusting of Chlorite from a location that is famous for the quality of the Quartz crystals that have been found there. This Smoky Quartz has a depression on its rear face with very interesting growth patterns. It is very hard and dangerous work collecting crystals in the mineralized clefts of the Swiss Alps. Good examples of Swiss Quartz are hard to come by in the U.S. as they are highly prized by the Strahlers that collect them and are much sought after by European collectors.
Q-151 Quartz with Graphite inclusions $125 Cong Ly, Hunan Province, China 10.3 x 3.6 x 2.5 cm. Here we have a large, incredibly gemmy Quartz crystal with numerous inclusions of Graphite measuring up to 2 cm. in size. It is incredibly difficult to convey in a photograph just how glassy these crystals really are. As far as I am concerned, these are the most interesting Quartz crystals that I have seen come from China. Graphite inclusions in Quartz are very rare, and even more so, in a Quartz crystal that is so glassy and lustrous.
Q-342 Smoky Quartz $75 Talefre Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif, Rhône-Alpes, France 6.5 x 4.6 x 3 cm. Despite the way it looks in the photo, this cluster of fine Smoky Quartz crystals is water-clear. This specimen was a pain to photograph, even the guy I got it from had problems photographing it for his website. This Smoky Quartz looks so much better in person. This beautiful Quartz specimen is essentially a floater, with only a small area of contact on its bottom. The bottom of this specimen features multiple terminations and several smaller Quartz crystals. A fine example of Alpine Quartz for which this location is justifiably famous for.
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- 2019 Cal Neva Mineral Company
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