Quartz (Ticino Habit) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Direct frm the Swiss Alps, here we have a great example of the classic Ticino or Tessin habit Quartz crystals from the actual canton or state from which they are named. This piece shows that classic narrow stepped faces along the prism which formed as a result of alternating rhombohedral and m prism faces at a sharp / acute angle to the produce these inconic crystals. The piece is very gemmy throughout with rather sharp, lustrous faces and a colorless interior. There is a saw mark on the bottom, but otherwise it's in great shape, save one contact on the back / bottm edge. There is a bit of attached matrix grown into the termination, but it's not damge. These crystals are hard to find, especially those from the actual state in Switzerland that bears their name. Please note, the given locality was "Robiei(?)", but I can't find a listing for this locality in any database. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#9711). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Velt" November-December 2017).