Mineral: Quartz
Locality: Shangbao Mine, Leiyang, Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Dimensions: 19,0 x 14,0 x 12,0 cm

Description: Main crystal size: 9,5 cm Bouquet of quartz scepters, the upper part of which is transparent, colorless and brilliant and the lower part very fine and whitish. When they were harvested, these samples consisted of dolomite plates from whence protruded quartz points measuring 3 to 5 cm. It was only by accident during cleaning in concentrated hydrochloric acid that these structures in scepters appeared after dissolution of the dolomite. The reason for their formation is that the quartz's initial growth was inhibited by the solution of calcium and magnesium still very enriched in CO2, whereas once the quartz crystals had grown past the solution, they could develop normally with larger sections. MIM number 1248 Photographer: Augustin de Valence (Aïnu)

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