Quartz var: Smoky (with ''x'' face)

Item Description

This is a wonderful example of the Smoky Quartz from the classics Monte Cervandone locality in the Italian Alps (right on the Swiss border). Typically we don't see a lot of Smoky Quartz crystals from this area, and this piece is almost completely WATER-CLEAR with a gentle smoky hue and sharp, lustrous faces. Speaking of which, the distinguishing characteristic that makes this piece so desirable is the fact that it features an "x" face { 6 1 5 1 } or { 5 1 6 1 } Miller indices, which is not terribly common in Quartz. The "x" face is a trapezohedron crystal face of Quartz, and is actually the best way to determine whether a crystal is either left-handed or right-handed. Now the label accompanying this piece states that there are "x" faces on the top and bottom of the crystal, but I can only find one on the top. Perhaps a crystallographic expert would be better suited to properly identify which face is the "x" on the lower portion of the crystal. Additionally, as is often the case when an "x" face is present on a Quartz crystal, there are corresponding "s" faces (rhombohedron faces) as well. A very attractive crystal with a cool morphological aspect that makes it all the more enticing. From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#10,870). This husband and wife duo were actively involved in the mineral world for many decades. Bill was a PhD geologist, and Anne was a mathematician, and they both were very serious mineral collectors. Bill served for many years as adjunct curator of mineralogy at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the Micromounters' Hall of Fame on October 12, 2019. Both Bill and Anne, at various times, served as president both of the Mineralogical Society of Cleveland and of the Micromineral Society of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the mi The rare barium lithium beryllium phosphate Wilancookite was named in their honor in 2015.