Brookite and Quartz

Item Description

Brookite and Quartz are two of the more notable mineral species found in Pakistan's Alpine Cleft deposits, and here we have them together in a fine, small cabinet specimen. The classic, bladed Brookites reach up to 6 mm long, and they are translucent to gemmy, easily showing off their fiery, red-orange color. There are also wider, thicker, superbly-lustrous crystals of deep red Rutile(?) along the spine of the piece, nestled between the Quartz crystals. The Quartz crystals themselves are tabular, mostly gemmy, superbly lustrous FADEN Quartz crystals that reach up to 1.8 cm across. Faden Quartz has wispy zones of inclusions and bubbles, created during pocket deformation, that wind their way down the middle of the crystals. This is a very distinctive, interesting, attractive, and uncommon habit for Quartz. Of note, there are actually two mines of the same name in the same district, said to be mined by the same brothers, with similar but not exact mineralogies. The elongated shape of the piece, running along a central spine of sorts, allows the individual minerals to display nicely, and the aesthetics, balance and quality of this specimen are very good. Recently deaccessed from the Tim Sherburn collection.