Red Quartz

Item Description

Quartz is an incredibly diverse mineral species, found in a wide range of crystal habits/morphologies and colors. It's also one of the most "inclusion friendly" minerals out there, so it can contain many other species or elements, creating some unique specimens. This is a lovely piece of Red Quartz, as we call it, but these crystals can be listed under several varietal names including Ferruginous Quartz, Red Quartz, "Hematoid" Quartz / Hematite Quartz, Eisenkiesel, etc. These specimens feature Quartz crystals which have been colored red by inclusions of iron oxide, most likely Hematite or Goethite, and sometimes the crystals are completely red depending upon the amount of inclusions. The locality around Tinejdad in Morocco has recently produced some wonderful examples of the material with robust crystals, larger size display specimens and that beautiful stark red color. Unlike "strawberry" Quartz or other reddish varieties where small bits of red inclusions can be seen, or even just a coating of iron oxide on white Quartz, these crystals are a vibrant red color. This piece features several sharp, well-formed, prismatic hexagonal crystals of Red Quartz measuring up to 4.8 cm, sitting on massive Smoky Quartz matrix. Some of the crystals are "studded" with dozens of tiny pyramidal Quartz crystals along the prism faces, creating a "cactus quartz"-styel effect. The piece is in very good shape overall, but it's contacted around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. ATTENTION QUARTZ COLLECTORS: If you don't have one of these in your collection, don't miss out now while they're available. They are beautiful display specimens with a pleasing color, and if you collect Moroccan minerals, you have to have one of these in your collection.