bizarre Quartz scepters

Item Description

Striking, bizarre looking sceptered quartz crystals form a remarkable, sculptural and aesthetic 360-degree small cabinet from this famous fluorite mine. The formation process follows. The thin quartz stalks were enclosed within dolomite. The quartz crystals continued growing after dolomite deposition and thickened into their typical hexagonal form with sharp terminations. Hydrochloric acid dissolved away the enclosing dolomite leaving this spectacular specimen. The small polymetallic Shangbao Mine is a world-class fluorite specimen locale and has also produced fine pyrite specimens and exceptional quartz specimens, such as this. The frosted translucent intergrown crystal cluster has striking form. Not many of this dramatic style came out. Comes with a custom-made and engraved lucite base, valued at $145, for free. See the 2012 Mineralogical Record China Special Issue IV, Vol. 43, No. 5.