FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

I guess that quartzes from the Alps are favourites for many quartz collectors. I really love alpine quartzes, so this one is definitely one of my personal all-time favourites:

[Jacqui Parsons]

[Bob Harman]

Blue quartz can be caused by any of a number of inclusions, both microscopic and macroscopic. The blue quartz might come from a wide variety of environments and worldwide localities.

These 2 examples, from an under appreciated situation, were self collected from Indiana, are of microcrystalline quartz, BLUE CHALCEDONY, and apparently derive their color from water existing in the micro spaces between the micro crystalline quartz. If kept dry, they seem to gradually pale out to very pale blue-gray over a period of years. Keeping fresh blue examples under water seems to help preserve the blue color. BOB

[Bob Harman]

From a relatively new find, these hematite included quartz specimens are marketed by the name "red amethyst or pink amethyst". They are from a gypsum mining district in Patagonia, Argentina and first appeared on the mineral market about 2016 - 2017. The quartz varies in color from pink thru bright red to a mauve shade.

I have 3 examples, acquired at the 2018 Denver Show. My 2 larger examples have calcites atop the quartz. The photo is a close up of the examples from my display case at last week's Cincinnati mineral show.

[Tobi]

[Tobi]

Though it produces masses of specimens and the stuff became quite common, Itremo/Madagascar became one of my favourite localities for quartz:

[Tobi]

We should talk more about quartz ;-)

There are two other favourite quartz localities that should be mentioned here, I think many collectors like them because of their incredible inclusions:

- Messina Mine, Musina, Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa
- Cabiche, Quípama Municipality, Boyacá Department, Colombia

I can't contribute specimens from these localities because sadly I don't own one, but I think others here do and could share photos of that wonderful quartzes :-)

Regards & stay safe
Tobi

[Bob Harman]

I decided to revive this long dormant quartz thread.

Interesting combinations of druzy quartz, variety amethyst and hematite included amethyst are rather commonly found together in examples from the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
This one of several examples in my collection, shows the gradation from one color to the other.
Several small calcites of no consequence are also seen.

[Eck Noch]

Here is a favorite of mine, an exceptional Smoky Quartz sitting atop some Albites. From an unlisted locality that we affectionately call The BBC Mine named such because of the large Smokies that we find.

[Eck Noch]

Here is another self collected piece out of our Eclipse mine, found in 2017 and pulled from the pocket that later became the namesake for the claim. The material from this pocket had exceptional inclusions but the quartz generally lacked clarity and luster, likely due to its rapid formation and tortured history. The material was picked up by Nathan Renfro of GIA and was published in the Micro World section of the Fall 2017 issue. This phantomed piece has numerous individual Anatase crystals as well as Anatase covered with epitaxial Rutile growth.

[Tobi]

Two wonderful quartz specimens! I really like the large one with the inclusions, but the "alpine style" smoky is also exceptional. Great pieces!

Regards
Tobi

[Eck Noch]

Tobi, thank you for your kind comment. Much appreciated! Here is a large, dark, but transparent Smoky Tessin from our pegmatite mine in Northern California. This came from a large pocket we dubbed the BBC Pocket for is exceptional and large smokies with brilliant green muscovite and rare hoppers albite formations.

[Eck Noch]

Here is a lattice formation of light Smoky Quartz as a lattice formation. This epitaxial growth formation is due to the fact that the quartz grew from a cyclic baveno twin. The baveno twin was also coated with epitaxial Albite.

[Eck Noch]

Here I present another from our Eclipse mine, this came from the Epiphany Pocket found in late 2016. This pocket yielded many very fine specimens of rich green Chlorite included Quartz, but to one side, were many crystals with white inclusions that I suspect are Calcite or clay minerals like cookieite. The orange and yellow colors are possibly due to limonite staining.

[Eck Noch]

Here is a cute zoned Smoky/Amethyst scepter, I found this one in a small, exposed pocket on the side of a large boulder of pegmatite at our BBC Mine. The saturation changes drastically depending on the angle it is viewed.