Large DT Quartz with Montmorillionite inclusions (Reynolds Coll.)

Item Description

Pink Montmorillionite clay is richly included in this impressive large sharp doubly terminated quartz crystal from the famous White Queen Mine. The striking lustrous crystal is mostly translucent with some transparent areas. Discovered in 1901, this classic locale only had major collecting efforts beginning in the early 1960s, when a road was built to the pegmatite. Tons and tons of these included quartz crystals were recovered from large pockets in the 1960s and 70s, along with fine morganites. They were often sawn length-wise and polished to reveal the beautiful and intricate inclusions of pink and tan montmorillionite. The mine is on Pala Tribe Indian lands as of 1992 (MINDAT). Contacting where other crystals once lay has minimal impact to this remarkable large crystal. Ex Bob Reynolds Collection, a well-known fossil and mineral expert and Curator of the San Bernardino County Museum. He passed away in 2020. A California classic, now rarely on the market.