Smoky Quartz, Microcline, and blue Albite

Item Description

Outstanding example of a particular form of granite called Graphic Granite. As you can see from the picture of the specimen's base, the Quartz is expressed in a habit that resembles cuneiform writing, particularly towards one end. Hence the term. In this specimen, the granite opened up into a pocket in which the minerals are very well developed. The Microcline is in sharp white crystals up to 2.2 cm on edge. There are definite 'bluish' zones withing the Microclines as they partially developed into Amazonite as they grew. It is an attractive and fascinating effect. There are several lustrous and gemmy Smokies. Of these, the main crystal is 1.5 cm. What makes this specimen truly special is the rare blue Albite that is intricately intergrown with the Microcline. If you look at the photo (taken in the lab at OU), you can clearly see the rough, composite morphology of many Feldspar terminations that compose the single crystals of blue Albite. An excellent and aesthetic specimen that is distinguished both mineralogically and petrologically.