Large Chinese Herkimer-Style Diamond Quartz Cluster

Description

A substantial multi-point cluster with powerful geometry, bright faces and supplier-attributed anthraxolite inclusions.

The multiple points create a broader and more complex silhouette than a single double-terminated crystal. Their different directions give the cluster a strong geometric character, while the dark internal material supplies contrast within the clearer Quartz. The appeal of this piece is in that combination of outward crystal architecture and internal detail.

The Chinese Herkimer-style name describes the double-terminated appearance and crystal habit. This is Quartz from the recorded Sichuan locality, rather than a diamond or a specimen from Herkimer County in New York. The individual arrangement of points and internal features gives this piece its own character.

The dark material was supplied to Avalon as anthraxolite. This attribution has not been independently laboratory tested.

Quartz is silicon dioxide, a mineral whose familiar pointed crystals develop as material is added to growing faces. It occurs in many geological settings, including mineral veins and granite-related deposits. The variety of crystal lengths, orientations and degrees of transparency makes it an especially rewarding mineral to compare: pieces with the same composition can have very different natural architecture.

The glassy lustre of Quartz comes from light reflecting off its surfaces. Clear areas allow a view into the crystal, while internal fractures, veils and inclusions can scatter that light and create softer white regions. These features are distinct from the outer crystal faces. Studying both the interior and the outline adds another layer of interest beyond the familiar pointed shape.

The recorded origin is Mount Xuebaoding area, Songpan County, Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan, China. The locality and mineral associations follow the information supplied with this specimen. Its individual growth and matrix provide the visual details described here.

The specimen measures 12 × 7 × 6 cm, with a recorded weight of 359 g. Its scale gives the natural architecture room to be appreciated as a whole, while the finer growth provides detail for closer study.

For display, support the stable base or the supplied mount rather than a projecting crystal. Quartz is relatively hard, but pointed ends and natural contact areas can still be damaged by an impact. Gentle handling helps preserve the arrangement that gives this individual specimen its character.