Smoky Quartz with Muscovite and Albite (ex Burnett Collection)

Item Description

A classic three-dimensional display specimen from one of the most celebrated pegmatite localities in the United States, and especially in San Diego County. The Little Three Mine is famous for its fantastic natural blue Topaz crystals, which are arguably the finest from any locality in North America, along with several other traditional granitic pegmatite minerals like Quartz and Muscovite. This particular specimen features a 2.7 cm long, sharp, lustrous, gemmy, beautiful Smoky Quartz crystal associated with robust bladed groups of silvery-golden colored Muscovite mica with minor associated bladed cream colored Albite (var: Cleavelandite) on pinkish-beige Microcline matrix. Now the Quartz appears to be two individual crystals grown together, but when you look at it from a certain angle, it almost looks as if it's a single crystal with an unusual growth, hard to illustrate in the photos, but it's fun to view in person. The piece is in very good shape, with no major damage, outside of the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. Overall, it's a showy and good quality example from many years ago (presumably the 1970s) and would make a great addition to any gem crystal collection or a suite of San Diego County minerals. Priced at $1,400 in the inventory. From the collection of Lee B. Burnett of Morrison, Colorado (#LB 242).