Smoky Quartz Gwindel

Item Description

One of the alltime classics of so many subcollections of mineral collecting might be to add a dramatic and large, "twisted quartz," or a Gwindel as we refer to them by the German mineral temrinology given to them in ancient times. These twisted quartzes, at their most dramatic - as this one - show a clear pivot around a central point, and literally twisted as they grew. They have a unique look to them, also at the edges. The best and biggest are considered to be from Switzerland and this is true to some extent (and in quantity as well), however a very few other Alpine-style deposits have given up a much more limited number of specimens that stand out all the more for being from these other, less productive, locations: Austria, France (still the same Alps!), Pakistan, and Russia at this one single location. This is a large and sparkling, gemmy gwindel of smoky quartz from Russia. We got it in an old collection, and these came out in the 1980s and 1990s, recognizable from the Swiss material only after seeing so many, and looking at fine details of color and association. Here, it has characteristically small green crystals of pocket-associated chlorite-actinolite minerals in association and evcen included within as specks within the sparkle; and the color is just not typical of Swiss smoky quartz - although certainly it is not far off. This locality is now defunct, and someday will be as classic as any old Alpine location in Europe for similar material (though it is more pricey if from Switzerland!). The crystal is staggered gently in the classic "twisted" gwindel form with an obvious twist to it, and with terminations complete on both ends. Contacting at a few edges is trivial in context. This is a large, dramatic specimen, with exceptional display quality and size, from one of the premier Quartz locations. Most gwindels this size would cost you $20,000 and more - for Swiss material ! Luckily, this Russian material is actually more rare, but less valued by the market of crazy-aggressive European collectors. It was valued $5000-6000 in our warehouse, where it has lain unappreciated for years waiting to be shown!