• Option A, four views of a cactus cluster with two main points at right-angle to each other, and several smaller points. The piece is largely off-white with areas of yellow-brown iron staining, and some small black iron spots.
  • Close detail view of a cactus quartz cluster with golden yellow iron staining
  • A cat inspecting cactus quartz specimens
  • Option B, four views of a cactus quartz cluster with several short fat colorless quartz crystals on one end, and the rest of the piece covered with lumpy yellow quartz druzy.
  • Option C, four views of a cactus quartz cluster with short bumps covered with druzy, and only a few crystal tips poking through. The piece has an off-white color with saturated golden yellow-brown staining in the lower areas between bumps. The piece has black iron spots.
  • Option D, four views of a cactus quartz piece, with several short fat quartz points sticking out of chunky druzy. There is a pair of intergrown points. The main points are colorless, with yellow-brown staining in between.
  • Option E, four views of a cactus quartz cluster with a half dozen points jutting tall at askew angles. The quartz is close to white with orange iron staining on some sides of the points.
  • Option F, four views of a cactus quartz cluster with one main point and some stubby smaller ones. The quartz is off-white with orange-brown iron staining under the druzy, more saturated appearing between mounds of druzy.
  • Option G, four views of long thin piece of cactus quartz, with short quartz points and a flap-like formation on one end, covered with druzy. The quarts is fairly white with orange-gold staining.
  • Option H, four views of a cactus quartz piece with a square base, and several good-sized quartz points covered in a finer druzy. The quartz is off-white with orange-brown iron staining.
  • Options A through D on a measuring mat. Option A is about three and a half inches long by two and a half inches wide. Option B is about three and a half inches long by two inches wide. Option C is about three and a half inches long by three inches wide. Option D is almost three and a half inches long, and a bit over an inch wide.
  • Options E through H on a measuring mat. Option E is about two and a half inches by two inches. Option F is about two and a half inches long by over an inch and a half wide. Option G is about three inches long and an inch and a half wide. Option H is two and a half inches long by two inches wide.
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Cactus quartz (medium)

Cactus quartz (medium)

$20.00 USD
$20.00 USD
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Locale: Boekenhouthoek, South Africa

Approx dimensions and weight: specimen A 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.75", 152g  B 3.5 x 2 x 1", 158g  C 3.5 x 3 x 1.25", 197g  D 3.25 x 1.25 x 1", 106g  E 2.5 x 1.75 x 1.75", 209g  F 2.5 x 1.75 x 1.25", 103g  G 3 x 1.5 x 1.25", 108g  H 2.5 x 2 x 1.75", 167g

 

Cactus quartz is also known as spirit or pineapple quartz, but as an Arizonan you know I’m gonna stick with ‘cactus’ quartz! Typical cactus quartz growth is a quartz point or cluster that is coated with small quartz crystals that grow outwards creating a prickly appearance like a cactus. Usually the tip of the quartz point will not be coated with this second generation of growth (learn more about quartz growth forms).

There is the faintest hint of amethyst purple coloration in some of these pieces, but they are largely off-white quartz. Yellow-orange pieces aren’t citrine; the color is caused by iron oxide staining. Some specimens are speckled with small black inclusions, also iron.

I find cactus quartz to be an inexpensive accent piece that can make an isopod terrarium look more magical! Keep it out of wet areas to keep it cleaner, and occasionally clear frass out of nooks and crannies. Then let them climb the CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN!

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