Smoky Quartz "casts" after Laumontite

Item Description

A few years ago (201) there was a discovery of these interesting and unusual Quartz specimens in the Cripple Creek District by Quinton Cross and Ralph Buck. This material grew in semi-stalactitic forms featuring sharp, smoky-grey colored Quartz crystals which are mostly pyramidal in habit. Some of these specimens actually show hollow "casts" after what we were told are preexisting crystals of Laumontite. This particular specimen does seem to have a very narrow "cast" at the center, which is only seen on the underside of the specimen, but you clearly see a hollow opening. The crystals are very sharp and well-formed, and they are translucent when backlit, but they seem to have a matte luster which is believed to be from a micro coating of Chalcedony. Many of the pieces from this discovery suffered from serious damage problems, but this piece is actually in great shape on the display side, though it is contacted on the back. This is not your run-of-the-mill Quartz, this is an odd piece and even stranger coming from Cripple Creek.