Quartz - Chinook Ridge, Canada - 1.3 mm x 0.9 mm x 0.8 mm

Mineral: Quartz
Locality: Chinook Ridge, Alberta, Canada
Dimensions: 1.3 mm x 0.9 mm x 0.8 mm

Description: I know, the picture is not perfect – I just tried my best but you can see crystallographic face and edges. The 2 smaller crystals are terminated, at one end in trigonal prisms. The larger one has the terminations removed. And now the surprise – This specimen is from a lower Cretaceous Conglomerate of the Cadomin Formation in the Deep Basin Zone of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The over 1 mm size of the larger crystal suggests that at the time of crystallization there was an open space sufficient for this specimen to grow. Small drusy quartz crystals are common in large pores in sedimentary rocks (both clastic and carbonates) as well as in association of different clay minerals making up the filling of veins and fractures. The specimen on the right represents one of the sides of the “void” and there are still several drusy quartz crystals attached. Drusy quartz crystals are rare in the sedimentary domain and a three crystal aggregate of over 1 mm in length is even scarcer Thanks for your attention an understanding for the quality of the photo. Adrian Pripoae. PS. I still have the specimens, so any advice regarding photo techniques that might increase quality are welcomed.