Twisted Quartz gwindel (Robertson Coll.)

Item Description

Dodo Mine smoky quartz specimens compare favorably with classic Alpine locations in Europe for similar material (though it would be even more pricey from Europe!). This is a very fine water-clear gem light smoky quartz gwindel. The crystal is staggered gently in the classic "twisted" form called a 'gwindel', with a very obvious twist to the growth in this case. The terminations are complete on both ends, except for the basal crystal tips on the short end. It has superlative glassy luster, with one face being lightly etched. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 13015. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). An excellent gwindel of Swiss Alpine quality from the equivalent environment in Russia. These were mostly mined in the 1980s-early 1990s. MUCH, MUCH better in person! The high glassiness and gemminess made photography difficult.