Quartz and Calcite on Magnetite

Item Description

This aesthetic combination specimen is dominated by several Quartz crystals sticking right up off matrix accompanied by some Calcite and sitting on a matrix of Magnetite. The Huanggang mines have produced a plethora of attractive pieces representing a variety of mineral species and this is a great example! Glassy, translucent Quartz crystals rise off the substrate in dramatic fashion. The largest crystal measures 8.5 cm and has several smaller crystals in near-parallel divergent growth at its base. There is another, smaller spray of Quartz crystals growing into the large crystal nearly perpendicular at the base in the front. Several other sprays of small Quartz crystals are intergrown with a glassy, 4 cm, faint bluish, transparent Calcite rhomb. Coarse, granular, gray-black, submetallic Magnetite serves as the contrasting matrix for the Quartz and Calcite. There is also a late generation of small, 2 to 5 mm, white, opaque Calcite crystals clustered on the Quartz at one end of the piece. Very attractive! Early Huanggang material from 2012-2015 era.