ROCK CRYSTAL

ROCK CRYSTAL

THE MINERAL
QUARTZ

HERKIMER DIAMOND JAPAN LAW TWIN
CHALCEDONY

MILKY QUARTZ

DRUSY CITRINE
PHANTOMED AMETHYST R0SE QUARTZ
SCEPTERED SMOKY QUARTZ
  • Chemistry: SiO2 , Silicon dioxide
  • Class: Silicates
  • Subclass: Tectosilicates
  • Group: Quartz
  • Uses: silica for glass, electrical components, optical lenses, abrasives, gemstones, ornamental stone, building stone, etc.
  • The Physical Properties of Quartz.
  • Specimens

  • Additional variety specimens include:
    • Amethyst
    • Citrine
    • Rock Crystal
    • Rose Quartz
    • Smoky Quartz

Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth. It is found in nearly every geological environment and is at least a component of almost every rock type. It frequently is the primary mineral, >98%. It is also the most varied in terms of varieties, colors and forms. This variety comes about because of the abundance and widespread distribution of quartz. A collector could easily have hundreds of quartz specimens and not have two that are the same due to the many broad categories. The specimens could be separated by answers to the following questions: color?, shade?, pyramidal?, prismatic?, druzy?, twinned?, sceptered?, phantomed?, included?, tapered?, coated?, microcrystalline?, stalactitic?, concretionary?, geoidal?, banded?, etc. Multiple combinations of these could produce hundreds of unique possibilities.

Some macrocrystalline (large crystal) varieties are well known and popular as ornamental stone and as gemstones.

  • Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.
  • Citrine is a yellow to orange gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is often created by heating Amethyst.
  • Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
  • Prasiolite is a leek-green gemstone variety that is rare in nature but is created by heating Amethyst from certain locations.
  • Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
  • Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
  • Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.

Cryptocrystalline (crystals too small to be seen even by a microscope) varieties are also used as semi-precious stones and for ornamental purposes. These varieties are divided more by character than by color.

The primary varieties of chalcedony are as follows:

  • Agate is a banded variety (sometimes with translucent bands)
  • Bloodstone is green with red speckles
  • Carnelian is yellow to orange
  • Chrysoprase is green
  • Flint is generally black with a fibrous microscopic structure
  • Jasper is any colorful agate
  • Onyx is black, white, or alternating black and white
  • Sard is yellow to brown
  • Sardonyx is banded, alternating sard and (usually white) onyx

Check out our selections of agate bookends, available as natural agate, dyed blue, and dyed purple.

Quartz is not the only mineral composed of SiO2. There are no less than eight other known structures that are composed of SiO2. These other substances and quartz are polymorphs of silicon dioxide and belong to an informal group called the Quartz Group or Silica Group. All members of this group, except quartz, are uncommon to extemely rare on the surface of the earth and are stable only under high temperatures and high pressures or both. These minerals have their own unique structures although they share the same chemistry, hence the term polymorph, which means many forms.

Quartz has a unique structure. Actually, there is another mineral that shares quartz's structure, and it is not even a silicate. It is a rare phosphate named berlinite, AlPO4, that is isostructural with quartz. The structure of quartz involves corkscrewing (helix) chains of silicon tetrahedrons. The corkscrew takes four tetrahedrons in order to repeat itself, or three turns. Each tetrahedron is essentially rotated 120 degrees. The chains are aligned along the C axis of the crystal and interconnected to two other chains at each tetrahedron making quartz a true tectosilicate. This structure is not like the structure of the chain silicates or inosilicates whose silicate tetrahedronal chains are not directly connected to each other. The structure of quartz helps explain many of its physical attributes.

For one, the helix makes three turns and this helps produce the trigonal symmetry of quartz. Likewise a helix or corkscrew lacks mirror planes of symmetry as does quartz. The corkscrew structure would also disrupt any cleavage which requires a plane of weakness not found in quartz and breakage would result in the curved fracture, conchoidal, that is found in quartz. Quartz can also have left and right handed crystals just as a corkscrew can screw in a left handed way or in a right handed way. There are even some very difficult to identify crystals of quartz that are twinned with alternating one sixths of the crystal being right handed and then left handed.

Quartz is a fun mineral to collect. Its abundance on the Earth's surface is incredible and produces some wonderful varieties that don't even look like the same mineral. A collector must always be up on the many varieties of quartz and it sometimes embarrasses a collector to have collected too many specimens of such a common mineral. But nearly all collectors concede that you can never really have enough quartz specimens. Note that quartz is nearly a defining component of most geodes. The agate form typically lines the original cavity, creating a durable shell to contain subsequent mineral growth, which itself is often quartz crystals of one or more varieties. Geodes from Brazil are a good example, as layers of agate comprise the shell, lined with milky and/or colorless quartz crystals, topped with amethyst.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is as variable as the spectrum, but clear quartz is by far the most common color followed by white or cloudy (milky quartz). Purple (Amethyst), pink (Rose Quartz), gray or brown to black (Smoky Quartz) are also common. Cryptocrystalline varieties can be multicolored.
  • Luster is glassy to vitreous as crystals, while cryptocrystalline forms are usually waxy to dull but can be vitreous.
  • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent, cryptocrystalline forms can be translucent or opaque.
  • Crystal System is trigonal; 3 2.
  • Crystal Habits are again widely variable but the most common habit is hexagonal prisms terminated with a six sided pyramid (actually two rhombohedrons). Three of the six sides of the pyramid may dominate causing the pyramid to be or look three sided. Left and right handed crystals are possible and identifiable only if minor trigonal pyramidal faces are present. Druse forms (crystal lined rock with just the pyramids showing) are also common. Massive forms can be just about any type but common forms include botryoidal, globular, stalactitic, crusts of agate such as lining the interior of a geode and many many more.
  • Cleavage is very weak in three directions (rhombohedral).
  • Fracture is conchoidal.
  • Hardness is 7, less in cryptocrystalline forms.
  • Specific Gravity is 2.65 or less if cryptocrystalline. (average)
  • Streak is white.
  • Other Characteristics: Striations on prism faces run perpendicular to C axis, piezoelectric (see tourmaline) and index of refraction is 1.55.
  • Associated Minerals are numerous and varied but here are some of the more classic associations of quartz (although any list of associated minerals of quartz is only a partial list): amazonite a variety of microcline, tourmalines especially elbaite, wolframite, pyrite, rutile, zeolites, fluorite, calcite, gold, muscovite, topaz, beryl, hematite and spodumene.
  • Notable Occurrences of amethyst are Brazil, Uraguay, Mexico, Russia, Thunder Bay area of Canada, and some locallities in the USA. For Smoky Quartz; Brazil, Colorado, Scotland, Swiss Alps among many others. Rose Quartz is also wide spread but large quantities come from brazil as do the only large find of Rose Quartz prisms. Natural citrine is found with many amethyst deposits but in very rare quantities. Fine examples of Rock crystal come from Brazil (again), Arkansas, many localities in Africa, etc. Fine Agates are found in, of course, Brazil, Lake Superior region, Montana, Mexico and Germany.
  • Best Field Indicators are first the fact that it is very common (always assume transparent clear crystals may be quartz), crystal habit, hardness, striations, good conchoidal fracture and lack of good cleavage.
QUARTZ specimens:
(hover for more info)
QUARTZ specimen qua-49
$ 55.00
Dims: 4.0" x 2.8" x 2.5" (10.2 x 7.1 x 6.4 cm)
Wt: 1 lb., 1.2 oz. (487 g)
Pachapaque Mine, Ancash, Peru
This specimen consists of a thick base of sphalerite on which have grown many long, thin Quartz crystals. These crystals achieve lengths of over 1.0" (2.5 cm), and do not exceed 0.2" (5 mm) in diameter. Though several are damaged and broken, most of the crystals in this cluster are intact and show no damage. They are colorless, show a slightly "frosted", pearly luster, and are transparent but slightly hazy, likely due to their frosty appearance. At their bases, several cubic pyrite crystals with good form rest around dull crystalline outcroppings of the sphalerite base. I have always liked this specimen because of the contrast between the Quartz and the sphalerite. It also sits up nearly straight, making an excellent display.
no photo
qua-49 ($ 55.00)
Pachapaque Mine, Ancash, Peru
QUARTZ specimen qua-54
$ 30.00
Dims: 5.3" x 4.3" x 3.5" (13.5 x 10.9 x 8.5 cm)
Wt: 2 lbs., 15.9 oz. (1.358 kg)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen consists of part of a Quartz geode that has been sawn open. The cut edges have been polished, allowing one to see the details of the crystalline and microcrystalline layers of quartz that line the inside of the pale tan lava skin. It consists of a 0.5" (1.3 cm)-thick layer of brown agate that surrounds a thicker (0.9" or 4.8 cm) layer of crystalline quartz, which is capped off by another layer of white agate that is only 1 or 2 mm thick. The hollow in the middle of the geode is thus lined with a bumpy layer of agate that coats a druse of Quartz crystal terminations. This agate layer has a few rusty-brown patches that are caused by impurities. There are a few substantial spots of breakage visible on the lava skin, and the piece doesn't sit straight up on one of the flattened faces as it was meant to, but it still displays well, and is quite interesting to look at. Besides, the agate that lines the hollow glows a faint but noticeable green color when bathed in shortwave UV light!
no photo
qua-54 ($ 30.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-55
$ 45.00
Dims: 5.4" x 4.5" x 3.4" (13.7 x 11.4 x 8.6 cm)
Wt: 2 lbs., 11.5 oz. (1.234 kg)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
This Quartz specimen has occurred in the form of a geode, layers of agate and druses of small crystals lining the inside of a bubble that formed in a lava flow. Only a small amount of the Quartz that coats the inside of the geode is microcrystalline in nature- most takes the form of druses of small, colorless, transparent crystals. There are two layers of these crystals, the thinner of which grew later than the thicker layer. There are a few black impurities on the smaller crystals' terminantions and some noticeable rust-staining. Portions of the geode's lava skin are missing- if one places the cut face of the geode over a bright light source, the exposed patches of agate glow brightly. I almost think that it makes a neater display that way.
no photo
qua-55 ($ 45.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-69
$ 23.00
Dims: 2.4" x 2.4" x 1.4" (6.1 x 6.1 x 3.6 cm)
Wt: 3.27 oz. (92.8 g)
Huaron Mine, Ancash, Peru
Another lovely little Peruvian specimen, this piece exhibits dozens of long, thin hexagonal prismatic Quartz crystals that jut out of a base made up of more Quartz that is intergrown with chalcopyrite and sphalerite. The Quartz crystals do not exceed 1" (2.5 cm) in length or 0.1" (3 mm) in diameter, and have excellent form and very little damage. They have a rather dull pearly luster, but are colorless, transparent, and quite clear. The sphalerite in the base occurs as very small crystals that are difficult to see among the Quartzes, but the chalcopyrite forms large crystals, one of which exceeds 0.5" in all dimensions; I have a feeling that it is twinned or consists of two crystals that are intergrown. Like much of the chalcopyrite that I have seen from this locality, the crystals have a dull gold-brown color and a very dull luster. Only in a few small damage areas can the deep gold coloration and metallic luster that one expects of this mineral be seen. It is an excellent specimen for a young collector or one who has little room to devote to specimens.
no photo
qua-69 ($ 23.00)
Huaron Mine, Ancash, Peru
QUARTZ specimen qua-90
$ 225.00
Dims: 2.3" x 1.2" x 0.6" (5.8 x 3.0 x 1.5 cm)
Wt: 20.3 g
Mega Xhorio, Serifos, Greece
When Steve and I saw this specimen for sale, we instantly knew that we had to have it for our stock. Like many other Grecian specimens that we have seen, it has the deep green coloration, murky translucence, and dull, pearly luster of Quartz that has heavy chlorite inclusions. However, the largest crystal on this specimen has the oddest, most warped hexagonal prismatic form that I have ever seen! Its dimensions are 2.3 x 0.7 x 0.6" (5.8 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm), and its form is more or less normal in the lower half of its length. From that point, though, the crystal shows a severely warped form that almost looks like a thin, deep slot was cut into its sides, spiraling up towards the termination tip. I have not seen anything like it before in a Quartz specimen! The other, smaller crystals in the cluster show some warped form on their termination tips, but it is nothing close to that of the larger crystal. There are two that are broken and one of these is incomplete, but the cluster is generally in good condition.
no photo
qua-90 ($225.00)
Mega Xhorio, Serifos, Greece
QUARTZ specimen qua-92
$ 800.00
Dims: 7.7" x 6.5" x 5.7" (19.6 x 16.5 x 14.5 cm)
Wt: 6.8 lbs. (3.1 kg)
Mount Ida, Arkansas, U.S.A.
One of the largest clusters in our present stock, this cabinet specimen consists of scores of intergrown hexagonal prismatic Quartz crystals. They are in excellent condition, showing only one large area of damage where a crystal was broken off. The crystals range in length from less than 0.1" (3 mm) to over 7.5" (19 cm). There are 3 crystals on the specimen that are much larger than the others; they are in pristine condition, showing almost no damage. All of the crystals on the cluster have well-defined edges and clean faces that show a vitreous luster. They are transparent and reasonably clear, though the larger crystals show a many assorted inclusions and some internal fractures. Two of the largest crystals show visible phantoms in the lower halves of their lengths, one of which is nearly complete. A small amount of grainy host rock is present on the specimen's underside, and there are a few areas that show some rust-staining, but it is a very impressive specimen that would do well on a spotlighted mantel or shelf.
no photo
qua-92 ($800.00)
Mount Ida, Arkansas, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-100
$ 450.00
Dims: 4.3" x 1.8" x 1.5" (10.9 x 4.6 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 8.86 oz. (251.4 g)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
One of the prettiest and most interesting specimens that I have seen, this piece has many attractive traits. It consists of a single colorless, transparent Quartz crystal. Close examination will show that it has a scepter form, wherein the crystal tapers at its base. It has a very subtle, pale smoky coloration and is transparent and moderately clear, though it does contain many cloudy inclusions and a few internal fractures. The crystal generally has clean edges and faces which give off a slightly dull, vitreous luster, though a few areas show some rather bizarre growth patterns and areas of healing. Its hexagonal prismatic form is moderately good, though parts of it are warped and its termination is not quite complete. The cause of this lack of form, however, is the fact that parts of the Quartz are permeated with green elbaite crystals! These crystals show good trigonal prismatic form though most are damaged and missing their terminations, and have a lovely deep-green color. They show a bright, vitreous luster and are transparent and quite clear, though some of the larger ones have several internal fractures. They cover most of 2 of the crystal's faces, and are accompanied by a layer of semicrystalline muscovite and a few random shards of albite, which act as a base rock.
no photo
qua-100 ($450.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-122
$ 75.00
Dims: 4.4 x 3.4 x 3.2" (11.2 x 8.6 x 8.1 cm)
Wt: 14.7 oz. (416 g)
Romania
At least 28 separate and distinct Quartz crystals rest on the metallic sulfide base of this hand specimen. These crystals achieve lengths of up to 3.6" (9.1 cm) and are in excellent condition, showing almost no fresh damage- even the broken crystals have partly-healed breakage surfaces. All have somewhat disseminated hexagonal prismatic form, wherein two or more crystals will be heavily intergrown, and evidence of many more smaller crystals is visible along each prism face. Their hexagonal prismatic form is still definite, however, with relatively well-defined edges and faces that show a pearly-to-vitreous luster. All are milky-white in color and are translucent, though the tips of some terminations are visibly clear. The base rock on which they rest is made up of a variety of metallic sulfide minerals, including pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and possibly a small amount of bournonite.
no photo
qua-122 ($ 75.00)
Romania
QUARTZ specimen qua-133
$ 46.00
Dims: 7.7 x 6.4 x 0.2" (19.6 x 16.3 x 0.5 cm)
Wt: 13.0 oz. (368 g)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
This large specimen consists of a cut and polished slice of a Quartz geode. Just beneath the sparse, dull, pale brown skin of the geode is a layer of banded agate approximately 1.2" (3 cm) in thickness. The agate occurrs in layers, some of which have a reddish-brown coloration. The other layers are essentially coloress and not quite transparent. Inside of the agate layer is a layer of colorless, crystalline Quartz that is approximately 1.1" (2.8 cm) thick. It is also colorless and transparent, though its tendencies cannot really be studied. The core of the geode is made up of alternating layers of white agate and more crystalline Quartz, and a druse of tiny crystals rests in a slight depression at the center.
no photo
qua-133 ($ 46.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-136
$ 30.00
Dims: 1.5 x 1.3 x 0.9" (3.8 x 3.3 x 2.3 cm)
Wt: 2.1 oz. (60 g)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen consists of a section of a Quartz crystal that has been cut, smoothed and polished. It is slightly damaged on one corner and shows no natural crystal form, though it has a hexagonal shape when viewed facing its basal axis. It is essentially colorless and transparent, though its clarity is interrupted by several phantoms that are trapped within. These phantoms are evidence of its crystal form, which they show. There are both complete and incomplete (due to cutting the specimen) phantoms present, and they are made out of a white dust or milky quartz. A few internal fractures and one cloudy inclusion are also present. There is no host rock, of course.
no photo
qua-136 ($ 30.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-140
$ 58.00
Dims: 2.3 x 1.2 x 0.6" (5.8 x 3.0 x 1.5 cm)
Wt: 10.7 g
Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
This odd specimen does not look at all like Quartz because it is a pseudomorph of aegirine- this simply means that the aegirine was replaced by Quartz, which reatined the shape of the earlier mineral. Thus, though these intersecting crystals are made out of Quartz, they appear to have good monoclinic prismatic form. They are in very good condition, showing no fresh damage, and possess a dull, pale gray coloration and a matte luster, though scores of tiny crystals embedded in their surfaces give the crystals a subtle sparkle. What appear to be a few tiny smoky quartz crystals are embedded at the juncture of the intersecting pseudomorphs, but there is no host rock present.
no photo
qua-140 ($ 58.00)
Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
QUARTZ specimen qua-144
$ 80.00
Dims: 2.8 x 2.1 x 1.5" (7.1 x 5.3 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 2.69 oz. (76.4 g)
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca, Peru
This specimen consists of a cluster of scores of small Quartz crystals. These crystals are generally in good condition, as they show moderate damage, and do not exceed 0.9" (2.3 cm) in length. Their hexagonal prismatic form is particularly good- there are at least 3 Japan-Law Twins on the piece, one of which is particularly well-exposed (see the second image). All are colorless, transparent and quite clear. They extend off of a base of more massive, white Quartz.
no photo
qua-144 ($ 80.00)
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca, Peru
QUARTZ specimen qua-146
$ 25.00
Dims: 4.5 x 2.7 x 1.8" (10.5 x 6.8 x 4.5 cm)
Wt: 14.5 oz. (411 g)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
A cluster of heavily-intergrown Quartz crystals makes up this rather odd specimen. Two of the crystals are far larger than the rest, making up nearly the entire mass and volume of the piece. Their hexagonal prismatic form is quite good, though their terminations are rather disseminated- each termination is divided up into 2 or more pyramids that are intergrown but still individuals. Otherwise, their edges are straight and well-defined, and their faces are clean and possess the standard vitreous luster. All are colorless and translucent to dimly transparent due to the presence of many cloudy inclusions and numerous internal fractures. There is no base or host material present.
no photo
qua-146 ($ 25.00)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-148
$ 25.00
Dims: 4.6 x 3.0 x 1.6" (11.7 x 7.5 x 4.0 cm)
Wt: 12.4 oz. (352 g)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
A crust formed of several intergrown Quartz crystals makes up this hand specimen. These crystals reach lengths of 2.5" (6.3 cm) and are generally in good condition, showing only a small amount of fresh damage. Their hexagonal prismatic form is good. All are colorless and transparent-to-translucent due to the presence of many cloudy inclusions and internal fractures.
no photo
qua-148 ($ 25.00)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-156
$ 35.00
Dims: 1.4 x 1.1 x 0.9" (3.4 x 2.9 x 2.3 cm)
Wt: 1.22 oz. (34.5 g)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
This small Quartz point has been completely re-faced and polished to a high gloss. It is colorless and transparent but only dimly clear due to the presence of many pale-gray phantoms trapped within. These phantoms are made up of parallel phantom layers that are arranged more or less regularly along the length of the point. The bottom one is easily the most visible and also the most complete, and is evidence of the original, good hexagonal form of the developing crystal.
no photo
qua-156 ($ 35.00)
Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-163
$ 36.00
Dims: 3.7 x 2.7 x 2.6" (9.6 x 6.9 x 6.7 cm)
Wt: 15.7 oz. (446 g)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
This large hand specimen consists of 5 intergrown Quartz crystals. The largest of these has dimensions of 2.9 x 1.8 x 1.5" (7.5 x 4.6 x 3.7 cm) and is the least intergrown, whereas the two smallest are intergrown very heavily with the others. Two of the larger crystals are damaged on their termination tips- one lightly so, and the other rather heavily- and one smaller crystal is rather heavily damaged. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form and are colorless, transparent and dimly to moderately clear due to varying concentrations of internal fractures and cloudy inclusions. There is no host rock present.
no photo
qua-163 ($ 36.00)
Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-165
$ 75.00
Dims: 3.7 x 2.7 x 1.9" (9.4 x 6.9 x 4.8 cm)
Wt: 8.34 oz. (236.4 g)
Huaron Mine, Cerro de Pasco, Peru
Scores of small Quartz crystals rest on the quartz-and-pyrite base of this large hand specimen. These crystals measure up to 0.6" (1.5 cm) in length and are in good condition, showing moderate breakage. All have excellent form, and one appears to form a Japan-Law twin, though it extends through and beyond the twinning plane. All are colorless, transparent and quite clear.
no photo
qua-165 ($ 75.00)
Huaron Mine, Cerro de Pasco, Peru
QUARTZ specimen qua-166
$ 26.00
Dims: 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.4" (2.3 x 1.8 x 1.0 cm)
Wt: 4.9 g
Becker's Quarry, West Willington, Connecticut, U.S.A.
This interesting thumbnail specimen consists of a single Quartz crystal that is in very good condition, showing very little damage. Its hexagonal form is excellent, and it exhibits an uncommon habit that is known as a "Tessin habit", wherein the crystal has a conical habit, tapering constantly and steadily to its termination. It is colorless, transparent, and quite clear near its tip, though its base is rather cloudy and contains a few internal fractures. It has the standard vitreous luster and is heavily striated. There is no base or host rock present.
no photo
qua-166 ($ 26.00)
Becker's Quarry, West Willington, Connecticut, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-177
$ 110.00
Dims: 3.3 x 2.1 x 1.6" (8.4 x 5.4 x 4.0 cm)
Wt: 4.0 oz. (114 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
At least 7 Herkimer Diamond Quartz crystals intersect to form this loose cluster. The largest of these crystals measures 1.6 x 1.2 x 1.2" (4.0 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm), and like the next largest, show considerable fresh damage- the rest of the crystals show minor or no damage. All have very good doubly-terminated hexagonal form and are colorless, transparent and dimly to moderately clear, containing many internal fractures and a few inclusions. At one point, most of the crystals were broken apart and then reattached with a clear glue.
no photo
qua-177 ($110.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-176
$ 120.00
Dims: 1.9 x 1.5 x 1.3" (4.7 x 3.9 x 3.3 cm)
Wt: 1.6 oz. (44 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Six intersecting Herkimer Diamond Quartz crystals form this loose cluster. These crystals reach dimensions of 1.4 x 1.1 x 1.0" (3.6 x 2.7 x 2.5 cm) and are generally in excellent condition, showing almost no damage. All have excellent doubly-terminated hexagonal form and are colorless and transparent. Their luster is vitreous and bright, and they are moderately to very clear, containing internal flaws and inclusions. An inclusion in one of the smaller crystals is particularly interesting- it is a two-phase inclusion in the form of some black solid material that moves within a pocket inside the crystal. Its movement suggests that the pocket is filled with a gas instead of a liquid.
no photo
qua-176 ($120.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-179
$ 75.00
Dims: 4.1 x 2.9 x 2.3" (10.4 x 7.5 x 5.7 cm)
Wt: 15.3 oz. (433 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
At least 5 Herkimer Diamonds intersect to form this cabinet specimen. Three of these crystals are much larger than the others and make up the bulk of the mass of the piece. One shows moderate to heavy surface damage, and was separated and then glued back onto the other two, which are in very good condition. All have stubby hexagonal prismatic form with double terminations and are colorless and transparent. Their luster is vitreous and each contains many inclusions and internal fractures, spoiling their clarity. A few tiny bits of brown host rock are present.
no photo
qua-179 ($ 75.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-178
$ 75.00
Dims: 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.7" (8.1 x 6.4 x 4.3 cm)
Wt: 6.3 oz. (178 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Five Herkimer Diamonds lie in pockets in the brown limestone host rock of this cabinet specimen. Four of these are clustered together in one pocket, and the last rests in another pocket. The largest of these appears to measure about 0.8 x 0.5 x 0.4" (1.9 x 1.2 x 1.0 cm), and like the other crystals, is in excellent condition, being protected in its pocket. All have very good hexagonal prismatic form with double terminations and a vitreous luster. They are also colorless, transparent and quite clear.
no photo
qua-178 ($ 75.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-180
$ 55.00
Dims: 2.6 x 2.6 x 1.9" (6.7 x 6.7 x 4.8 cm)
Wt: 5.3 oz. (150 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Two intersecting Herkimer Diamonds make up this cabinet specimen. One crystal is much larger than the other, having dimensions of 2.6 x 2.0 x 1.6" (6.7 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm), and both are in very good condition, showing only a small amount of damage. Their hexagonal prismatic form is very good, and both show double-termination. They are colorless, transparent and have the standard vitreous luster. Their clarity is spoiled by the presence of many internal fractures, flaws and inclusions, and at one point the two were separated and then reattached with a clear glue. A few dull, pale brown dolomite crystals are attached in one spot.
no photo
qua-180 ($ 55.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-182
$ 45.00
Dims: 2.3 x 2.1 x 1.4" (5.8 x 5.5 x 3.6 cm)
Wt: 3.8 oz. (107 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Two intersecting Herkimer Diamonds rest in a pocket in the dolomitic limestone base of this cabinet piece. The larger one, measuring approximately 0.8" (2 cm) in length, entraps the other crystal, which is much smaller, within the hollow. Both have excellent doubly-terminated hexagonal prismatic form and are colorless and transparent. Their luster is vitreous and both are very clear.
no photo
qua-182 ($ 45.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-181
$ 50.00
Dims: 2.7 x 2.0 x 1.5" (6.9 x 5.0 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 5.6 oz. (160 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
This cabinet specimen consists of a cluster of 3 intersecting Herkimer Diamonds that are generally in good condition- though all show geometric indentations caused by the separation of other crystals, only the smallest shows any fresh damage. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form and are doubly-terminated. They have the standard vitreous luster and are colorless, transparent and dimly to moderately clear, containing many internal fractures, flaws, and inclusions. Some iron oxide is trapped within some fractures, giving portions of the crystals a yellow tinge.
no photo
qua-181 ($ 50.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-183
$ 45.00
Dims: 2.8 x 1.7 x 1.3" (7.0 x 4.3 x 3.3 cm)
Wt: 3.1 oz. (89 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
At least 6 Herkimer Diamonds intersect to form this hand specimen. The largest of the crystals has dimensions of 1.5 x 1.4 x 1.2" (3.8 x 3.6 x 3.0 cm) and shows only slight damage- the other crystals are in even better condition. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form and are doubly-terminated. They are colorless and have a bright, vitreous luster, and are transparent and moderately to very clear. The largest crystal contains some rust inclusions that give it a yellow tinge. The cluster broke apart at one time, and has been glued back together.
no photo
qua-183 ($ 45.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-184
$ 35.00
Dims: 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.5" (8.2 x 6.4 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 4.7 oz. (133 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Three Herkimer Diamonds rest in pockets in the limestone host rock of this cabinet piece. These crystals do not exceed 0.7" (1.8 cm) in length or 0.5" (1.2 cm) in width and are in excellent condition due to the protection of the limestone. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form with double terminations, and are colorless and transparent. Their vitreous luster is standard, and their clarity is very good. A small amount of dull, cream-colored dolomite is also embedded in the limestone.
no photo
qua-184 ($ 35.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-185
$ 35.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.6 x 1.2" (4.5 x 4.0 x 3.1 cm)
Wt: 1.8 oz. (50 g) w/ base
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
The limestone host rock of this hand specimen contains 6 Herkimer Diamonds resting in hollows. These crystals do not exceed 0.5" (1.2") in length or diameter and all are in excellent condition, showing no visible damage. All have excellent doubly-terminated hexagonal prismatic form and are colorless and transparent. Their vitreous luster is standard for the specie, and their exceptional clarity is common for pieces from this area. The piece is hot-glued to a square acrylic base.
no photo
qua-185 ($ 35.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-186
$ 30.00
Dims: 0.8 x 0.6 x 0.4" (2.0 x 1.4 x 1.0 cm)
Wt: 3 g
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
This single Herkimer Diamond Quartz crystal is in very good condition, showing no fresh damage. Its doubly-terminated hexagonal form is excellent, and it is transparent and generally clear, though it contains several large internal fractures and a few inclusions. One particular inclusion is interesting- it is a two-phase inclusion, in the form of a moving air bubble in a water pocket. The air bubble is quite large and easy to see, and its movement is plainly visible. A small, black tile base is included.
no photo
qua-186 ($ 30.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-187
$ 25.00
Dims: 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.0" (6.2 x 4.0 x 2.5 cm)
Wt: 2.2 oz. (63 g)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
Two intersecting Herkimer Diamonds rest in a hollow in the limestone base of this hand specimen. The larger of these crystals measures about 0.5" (1.2 cm) in length, and is considerably larger than the other one. Both are in excellent condition, showing no human-induced damage, and have excellent doubly-terminated hexagonal form. They are colorless, transparent and very clear, and have the standard vitreous luster.
no photo
qua-187 ($ 25.00)
Herkimer County, New York, U.S.A.
QUARTZ specimen qua-188
$ 30.00
Dims:2.9x2.3x2.2" (7.4x5.8x5.6 cm)
Wt: 5.4oz. (152g)
Galileia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Three transparent crystals of quartz rise from a matrix of albite, muscovite, and quartz in this specimen. Two of the crystals constitute a parallel growth. These crystals reach nearly 1.0" (2.5cm) in length. This specimen shows no damage at all, and displays quite nicely.
no photo
qua-188 ($ 30.00)
Galileia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
QUARTZ specimen qua-189
$ 30.00
Dims: 1.5x1.3x1.8" (3.8x3.3x4.6 cm)
Wt: 1.23 oz. (34.9g)
St. Johnsville (near Herkimer), New York, USA
Herkimer diamonds (doubly terminated clear quartz crystals) formed in cavities in a rock and are usually removed from the cavity without any matrix. These quartz crystals look just like Herkimers, but they are perched upon a shell (actually a quartz druze) that formed over a softer rock, since partially disolved away. Three of the quartz crystals are extremely clear, another 4 have varying amounts of fractures and/or milkyness. Luckily enough, the top crystals are best, and the lower the crystal, the lower the quality (on this specimen).
no photo
qua-189 ($ 30.00)
St. Johnsville (near Herkimer), New York, USA
QUARTZ specimen qua-190
$ 25.00
Dims: 1.2x0.7x1.3" (3.0x1.7x3.3 cm)
Wt: 0.4 oz. (11.0g)
St. Johnsville (near Herkimer), New York, USA
This specimen has a cluster of 4 "Herkimer Diamond" style quartz crystals on a druze of tiny quartz crystals over a brown crust. The two uppermost crystals are nearly perfect in form and clarity, while the other two appear cloudy due to numerous internal fractures. The largest crystal also has some damage (fracture on a point and edge) - perhaps there was once a fifth crystal which broke off, leaving this damage as its legacy.
no photo
qua-190 ($ 25.00)
St. Johnsville (near Herkimer), New York, USA
QUARTZ specimen qua-191
$ 30.00
Dims: 5.1x2.9x1.2" (13.0x7.4x3.0cm)
Wt: 10.68oz (302.6g)
Western USA
This specimen is a green jasper. It is not very pretty, but it does have a pattern which could be appealing when a skilled lapidairist cuts and polishes it into one or more cabochons.
no photo
qua-191 ($ 30.00)
Western USA
QUARTZ specimen qua-192
$ 60.00
Dims: 5.73x2.50x2.43" (14.55x6.36x6.16cm)
Wt: 30.94oz (877g)
? Uraguay ?
This stalactite has been cut leaving a flat base, and the entire specimen is covered with centimeter scale colorless transparent quartz crystals, all of which are relatively stubby and have enough internal fractures as to appear milky. A loupe reveals that the quartz is very slightly milky. The cut base, while not polished, still shows that the core of the stalactite is agate. A hundred or so of the thousand+ crystals are damaged, all showing fractured tips which I believe to be human induced damage. Still, other than the damage and slightly milky appearance, this is a very nice stalactite.
no photo
qua-192 ($ 60.00)
? Uraguay ?
QUARTZ specimen qua-194
$ 27.00
Dims: 1.71x1.25x0.62" (4.34x3.17x1.58cm)
Wt: 0.77oz (21.9g)
Magaliesberg Mountains, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
This is a specimen of "Cactus Quartz", essentially a single large prismatic quartz crystal that has been overgrown with a druze of tiny prismatic quartz crystals except at the termination. The net effect is that the sides of the crystal are spiky and sparkly. From the broken base, once can see the original quartz crystal and measure the 3-4mm thickness of the druze.
no photo
qua-194 ($ 27.00)
Magaliesberg Mountains, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-193
$ 25.00
Dims: 2.42x0.92x0.42" (6.15x2.34x1.08cm)
Wt: 0.75oz (21.3g)
Magaliesberg,South Africa
This is a specimen of "Cactus Quartz". It consists of a large prismatic quartz crystal which tapers slightly towards its termination. Its color varies from a milky white to a smoky gray to light shades of brown. This crystal is covered with a druze of tiny transparent colorless quartz crystals - the "needles" of the cactus.
no photo
qua-193 ($ 25.00)
Magaliesberg,South Africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-195
$ 57.00
Dims: 4.28x2.32x1.60in (10.87x5.88x4.07cm)
Wt: 6.23oz (176.7g)
Magaliesberg, South Africa
This is an excellent specimen of "cactus quartz", as a single large prismatic quartz crystalarrises from a cluster of smaller crystals. The sides of all of the quartz crystals are coated with a druze of tiny quartz crystrals, giving the specimen a prickly appearance and feel. Only the terminations are free of the druze. The specimen stands nicely on its own.
no photo
qua-195 ($ 57.00)
Magaliesberg, South Africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-196
$ 25.00
dims mm=56.51x11.95x13.31
wt g=14.2
Magaliesberg Mtn. Range, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
This isolated cactus quartz crystal is white on one side and a light brown on the other, which also has a sprinkling of "pepper" which looks like goethite to me.
no photo
qua-196 ($ 25.00)
Magaliesberg Mtn. Range, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-197
$ 25.00
dims mm=61.32x17.61x16.95
wt g=26.3
Magaliesberg Mtn. Range, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
While most people would consider this a "cactus quartz" specimen, some would call it "cactus amethyst" because of its very pale violet color. The druze of quartz (amethyst?) crystals are colored yellow in some places, so some would call that citrine. A loupe is needed to detect the tiny bit of damage to the tip of the crystal.
no photo
qua-197 ($ 25.00)
Magaliesberg Mtn. Range, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-198
$ 34.00
Dims mm=45.53x28.68x25.63
wt g=45.3
Magaliesberg, South africa
I couldn't decide how to characterize this specimen. It comes from a mine that produces the amethyst variety of "cactus quartz". However, it is quite dark, not the pretty violet-purple of amethyst. Close inspection shows that the large central crystal is a phantom - smoky quartz over amethyst. There is also an area of citrine (yellow-orange colored quartZ). In the end, I decided to just call it "quartz".
no photo
qua-198 ($ 34.00)
Magaliesberg, South africa
QUARTZ specimen qua-199
$ 26.00
dims mm=51.66x26.00x22.63
wt g=41.0
Magaliesberg, South africa
This is a stubby little specimen of "Cactus Quartz". While the crystals are generally transparent, they have many internal fractures, and the druze coating the sides of the central crystal has a bit of a smoky tint. One side of the crystal shows several damaged crystals - it looks like another crystal was once attached here.
no photo
qua-199 ($ 26.00)
Magaliesberg, South africa

 


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