Quartz with Hematite & Pyrite

Description

A sparkling natural Quartz cluster with clear to milky-white crystals, fine red Hematite flecks and scattered brassy-gold Pyrite. Glassy crystal faces contrast with the metallic crystals, giving this specimen plenty of detail to enjoy up close.

The pale Quartz crystals show fine red Hematite colouring alongside reflective brassy Pyrite. The natural cluster is supplied mounted on its glass display base.

Additional associations reported: Chalcopyrite and Sphalerite.

The finer crystalline growth described here adds another scale of detail to the specimen. Many small faces contribute to the sparkling surface, while the larger outline establishes its overall form. That combination is worth appreciating beyond the main colour: surface texture, spacing and the distribution of growth all help distinguish this individual piece.

The recorded Pyrite contributes a metallic element to the association. Light reflects from its faces differently to the non-metallic growth around it, allowing small metallic areas to stand out within the specimen. That contrast is a useful part of the display and gives the piece interest for collectors of mixed mineral associations, as well as the principal species.

The recorded Hematite adds iron-mineral detail alongside the principal crystals. Its distribution and contrasting colour help distinguish different parts of the specimen. Here, that association is appreciated as part of the piece’s natural character, alongside the crystal form and matrix. The identification follows the recorded listing rather than being inferred from colour alone.

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 Fengjiashan Mine, Daye County, Hubei Province, China. Within a collection of Quartz specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures 75 × 55 × 33 mm, with a recorded weight of 109 g. The proportions give a useful guide to its place in a display, with the individual crystal arrangement and mineral association remaining the principal points of interest.

Care: Handle by the base or sturdy matrix, avoid knocks to the crystal tips and dust gently with a soft, dry brush.