Quartz (solution quartz)

Item Description

This item is part of a special benefit auction for the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals (ricenorthwestmuseum.org). Items are either deaccessions from the museum's collection or were donated by generous supporters listed below.

Auction open April 1, 2021 through April 17, 2021.

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, April 19, for payment using PayPal or credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost, or please contact brandy@mineralauctions.com if you'd like to plan on picking up items at future shows or during a stop through Dallas.

Jackstraw clusters of "solution Quartz" aren't common from the Quartz mines of Arkansas and this is a very aesthetic piece. Dozens upon dozens of slender, glassy, doubly terminated, super transparent Quartz crystals comprise this piece that is entirely Quartz. Individual gem Quartz crystals range in size from a centimeter up to a few centimeters in size with many as needle Quartz crystals and others only slightly more robust and all of them are essentially in random orientation so they catch any incident light. This is a gorgeous, glistening cluster, of what the locals call "solution quartz." I think the moniker has to do with the fact the crystals tend to be intergrown with many others in jackstraw groups which are not attached to matrix: the unlikely-looking floater status of these delicate groups thus reflects the fact they were in solution rather than deposited onto country rock. Today, mining of these specimens is done only by (risky) diving using scuba equipment, last I heard. This toenail is mesmerizing and complete all around. Classic US material, hard to find. Better in person.