FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[pro_duo]

hi all
all imformation I have is that it is from Bektau hills,Chemkent,Kazakhstan.
I found that was called strawberry quartz, but somebodies told me it was not.
Therefore, I want to know if somebody can tell me what that quartz is.
Thank you very much.

[Peter Megaw]

"Strawberry quartz" is a hobby term with no hard and fast definition...it is generally applied to quartz with a pinkish hue, generally due to coatings or inclusions. Your piece looks remarkably similar to the famous strawberry quartz from Uruachic, Chihuahua, Mexico where the strawberry color is imparted by a combination of myriad needles of a golden-orange mineral...probably rutile (some say hematite, but the habit makes this unlikely) and an underlying amethystine quartz stage. This comes from a quartz vein hosted in volcanic rocks.

Use a hand lens to see if your material contains similar, or other inclusions...

BTW: Uruachic strawberry quartz has not come into the market in any quantity for over 20 years...and has HUGE collector demand, especially in the Far East. It polishes beautifully yielding an interesting play of light phenomenon that is highly prized in that part of the world. If you have a source for similar material, you have a winner on your hands!

i'LL LOAD UP SOME IMAGES LATER

[Pete Modreski]

I've often seen the "strawberry quartz" from Kazakhstan at Tucson; it does look basically like your specimen, though the best is a deeper red color. So, yours could be the Kazakhstan quartz, just a paler colored variety. As Peter (the other Peter M.) said, there's no formal definition and it's up to the owner or the buyer or the seller, whether he thinks the color is rich enough to warrant calling it "strawberry".

Pete

[pro_duo]

Thank you so much.
it is first time I learn that "strawberry quartz" is a hobby term.

here are the close up picture. I hope it might help.

[John S. White]

This is surely strawberry quartz from Kazakhstan. The locality is reasonably productive, you usually can find some at most major shows. The color, however, seems lighter than what I have seen from there. Perhaps your photo does not reliably represent the true color.

Peter M. is right on, as usual. In my experience the Mexican strawberry quartz is by far the best in quality and is highly prized by those fortunate enough to own any of it.

I would like to point out that the inclusions are hematite. They are NOT lepidocrocite!

[Peter Megaw]

Here are some shots of Mexican strawberry quartz from Uruachic. This piece came from Miguel Romero's garage! Piece is about 20 cm across

Note that the elongate inclusions look very much like what's in your piece

[pro_duo]

Thanks again, and nice specimen,Peter Megaw
I think this forum will bring me to a new minerals world I've not ever been.

[Peter Megaw]

Someone must have determined what the inclusions in either/both of these occurrences is. Anyone know? The "original" Peter M. for example?

(I feel like pork..."the other white meat", but I suppose that's better than being chicken?).

[John S. White]

Peter, didn't read my comment above? I am hurt. HEMATITE!!!!

[Peter Megaw]

Disculpame...no leo bien el ingles...

[Jeevan kracht]

I have a 2 1/2 inch point that is identical to Mr megaws strawberry cluster. Same rutile or hematite in it. Rich sweet color with a middle portion of it showing amethyst. must be from the same place. Where is that in Mexico?