Quartz ("Faden")

Item Description

Despite the fact that Quartz is one of the most common species in the world, it's incredibly versatile in terms of colors, varieties and crystals forms. Some of the most attractive and distinctive Quartz specimens are the famous "Faden" crystals groups found in European Alpine kleft deposits. These pieces feature one or more internal "Faden" (German word for string) growths which some say are caused by fibrous amphibole inclusions, while other say they form as "scars" from the stress involved pulling crystals during tectonic activity. Similar specimens have been found in Pakistan for a while now, and this piece is from the classic locality in South Waziristan. It exhibits a notable "Faden" that runs through the center of the sharp, lustrous, colorless, GEM/gemmy, prismatic, hexagonal, colorless Quartz crystals creating a wonderful display specimen. The largest individual Quartz crystal measures 3.6 cm long. The overall quality of the crystals on the Quartz is excellent, but the each end of the piece is contacted. I love how the piece resembles some kind of exotic plant life or an elaborate piece of rock candy. This one is on par with many true Alpine "Fadens" for size, quality and displayability. These attractive specimens from Pakistan have for the most part dried up in recent years from the market, and it's a shame because I truly feel they are underappreciated for what they are. Valued at $500 in the inventory.