Smoky Quartz ''casts'' after Laumontite (ex Gary Weaver Collection)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful example of these lovely unique epimorphs or "casts" of Smoky Quartz and Chalcedony replacing Laumontite from Cripple Creek, Colorado. This locality (purportedly in an old mine shaft) produced a small amount of these eye-catching and unique specimens. The label accompanying this piece states that it is Quartz replacing Barite, but this is not correct. The Smoky Quartz crystals on this specimen have a distinctive muted silvery-grey color, with matte luster and a somewhat stalactite-esque growth due to the way the Quartz overgrew the preexisting Laumontite. The lack of luster on the Quartz is most likely due to a micro coating of Chalcedony. The biggest problem that faced most of these specimens is serious damage, but this piece is in good condition overall compared to most from the find that were in terrible shape and did not display very well. This one is more than just a Quartz specimen. This is a unique discovery, and would make any Quartz or "cast" collector very happy. This piece was collected in 2010 by Quinton Cross and Ralph Buck. From the collection of Gary Weaver of Prescott, Arizona (1944-2019). Gary was an electrical engineer who worked for many years for Hughes Aircraft in California. After retiring to Prescott, Arizona in the early 2000s, Gary rekindled his childhood love of minerals, amassing a collection of roughly 2000 specimens focusing on localities in which he and his wife had lived or visited (Mexico, Peru and the western / southwestern United States). You can read Gary's obituary here https://www.dcourier.com/news/2019/apr/27/obituary-gary-richard-weaver/