This week’s Facebook Mineral of the Week Group theme is Quartz. Just quartz. One of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust, the second most abundant in fact.
Apparently, I have more specimens of quartz (or at least with quartz listed on the label) than any other single mineral in my collection. Not unsurprising.
Quartz can be aesthetic on its own, but more interesting when it occurs with other mineral species. It can occur as replacements of other minerals, as either pseudomorphs, where quartz has replaced the pre-existing mineral in its entirety, or as epimorphs, where it has coated the previous mineral, and where the latter has now gone, leaving a void in its place. Many quartz crystals can have interesting inclusions. There are different named habits, and twinning rules, and sceptres (let’s not forget the sceptres!). Quartz can be coloured. It can just have so much to offer.
I haven’t shared one so far for the theme, so have picked out one that I personally find to be interesting. By the time this is posted, it may be too late, and the theme may have changed!
Below: Quartz Enhydro (bubbles), with petroleum inclusions and negative crystals, Baluchistan, Pakistan. Width of view 5mm.
