Smoky Quartz (unusual "phantom" / pseudomorph) with Spessartine

Wushan, Tongbei, Yunxiao, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian, East Region, China
Small Cabinet, 8.3 x 5.8 x 5.7 cm
Start Time: 11/09/2017 6:45:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 11/16/2017 6:52:02 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

A really unusual specimen from this prolific locality, best known for producing some of the most attractive Spessartine Garnet and Smoky Quartz combinations (often with Microcline) extant. This piece features a predominant, sharp, rich smoky colored (almost "Morion") Quartz crystal, but it has two very interesting aspects that make it stand out from others I've seen from the locality. First, there is clearly a gemmy lighter colored hexagonal "phantom" crystal inside the larger smoky, but what's bizarre to me is that there seems to be a pseudomorph in place at the base as you can clearly see white Microcline (studded with a few orange Spessartines), that seems to be INSIDE or at least under the surface of the Quartz. I'm not sure if the smaller "phantom" crystal inside the larger Smoky was pseudomorphed by Microcline, or if the Quartz grew in two generations with an interruption of Microcline in the middle. Either way it's a unique and eye-catching specimen. To top it off there are more sparkling orange Spessartine trapezohedra that can be seen sprinkled here and there. Don't miss out on this if you collect Quartz, interesting morphologies, or just good Chinese specimens.

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