Amethyst (''Cactus'' Amethyst) (ex Charles F. Lewis Collection)

Item Description

This is a very good quality, showy display specimen of the so-called "Cactus Amethyst" or "Spirit Quartz" from South Africa. These attractive and distinctive specimens first hit the market in the mid 2000s, and really made a splash with collectors, especially Quartz enthusiasts. This piece features beautiful, lustrous, drusy, translucent fine rich purple crystals of Amethyst sitting on an earlier generation of Quartz. The terminations of the individual crystals are isolated, while the body of the crystals have a prickly, "cactus" appearance with an overgrowth of smaller crystals along the prisms. Boekenhoutshoek is the true source for the Amethystine Quartz, erroneously marketed at first as being from the Magaliesberg Range. The largest crystal on the specimen measures 3.7 cm long. This piece has richer color than most you'll find from the locality. Valued at $750. From the collection of Charles F. Lewis (#577).