Smoky Quartz w/ Montmorillionite inclusions (Larson Coll.)

Item Description

Dramatic very complex steepled termination on this striking large and pristine 360-degree smoky quartz crystal from the famous White Queen Mine. The terminations of the lustrous crystal are included with gray clays, while each of the six prism faces display a different scene, like a panorama, of varying amounts of included pink montmorillionite clay, gray clay and glassy smoky quartz. The base reveals that the piece is nearly entirely gemmy smoky quartz. The White Queen Mine is famous for gorgeous vivid pink morganite crystals and for exotic quartz crystals included with pink and tan montmorillionite. Mine owner Norm Dawson opened a huge pocket in 1959 and 1960 that yielded about 6 tons or 5600 kg of quartz and 80-120 kg of morganite! See the 2002 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 33, No. 5 and: https://www.mindat.org/loc-4459.html. Ex Bill Larson San Diego County Collection and long on display at his Pala International shop in Fallbrook. This is certainly among the most sculptural 360-degree examples of this varietal, that we have seen. An unusual White Queen Mine classic, quite recognizable, and very seldom available in this quality.