• Detail of the quartz point growing at right-angle, which is covered in clumpy off-white crystals. They are calcite, formed in thicker rice-like crystals on the surface. Around the base is poker-chip style calcite, small flat platelets stacked at multiple angles.
  • Multiple quartz points in a haphazardly cluster, with one long well-formed point. There is one point growing out at right-angle to it, and part of a broken one perched on top. The points are covered in a white crust with clumpy minerals on the left side.
  • The backside of the piece, completely covered in a lumpy opaque black mineral, and a scaly layer of poker-chip calcite crystals. There is a white crystal in the center.
  • The top half of the main point, which excellent form and a symmetrical tip. The point is covered in a bumpy white crust. There is a bumpy black material covering the right face and sprinkled in a gradient on the white surface.
  • A side-view of the cluster of minerals on the side of the piece, showing a section of stacked hexagonal platelets in the irregular black material.
  • A wider view of the quartz point covered in calcite, also showing the broken end of the partial quartz point on top.
  • A side-view of the main point, showing a distinct line between the white crust and the backside with faces covered in black material. The black side has a textured reflective surface like rough scales.
  • Detail of the white crystal composed of fine poker chip calcite growth, small off-white platelets stacked into a vertical point. The surface is entirely coated in the platelets, many of which are dark-colored in the center. Underneath, a black surface shows through.
  • Detail of the surface of the black side of the mineral. Light yellow colored poker chip calcite platelets cover the surface, forming stacks and coating it like scales. Many of the platelets are hexagonal, and dark-colored at the center.
  • Detail of the calcite-encrusted point illuminated in blue-tinted UV light. The calcite fluoresces a moderately strong peachy red color.
  • Scale image of the point on a measuring mat, with the main point measuring about four inches long and the attached cluster less than two inches square.
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Inner Mongolian quartz cluster with calcite

Inner Mongolian quartz cluster with calcite

$40.00 USD
$40.00 USD
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Locale: HuangGangLiang mining district, Inner Mongolia, China

Approx point length: 4"

Approx weight: 74g

 

These quartz points are from HuangGangLiang, and commonly called Mongolian or Inner Mongolian quartz. This isn't your typically shiny quartz; this quartz is completely coated in a white crust and clumpy mineral growth.

On one side, the piece displays a long well-formed quartz point with a cluster of additional points and minerals attached. Cracks in the crust and broken ends reveal the first generation of growth was an icy clear colorless quartz. A second generation of growth occurred, depositing a thin sandy white crust on top. Studied closely, the crust appears composed of small white bumps and has a slight glitter like sand.

The point sticking out at right-angle is completely covered in small calcite crystals, with platelet growth all around the base. The larger form of this growth is known as "poker chip" in the industry because the thin platelets commonly grow in stacks.

On back side of the piece, it is nearly completely covered in an unknown opaque black mineral. I suspect it could be poorly-formed specularite hematite. At first glance this side looks unexceptional, but studied closer the entire surface is coated in a very fine poker chip style calcite in a light yellowish color. It looks like oysters covering a pier. There is one white point completely covered with—or composed of—stacked white platelets.

UV reactivity The calcite on this piece will fluoresce and phosphoresce moderately well under 365nm UV light. The denser calcite growth covering the quartz point has the best reaction. The fine growth on the black side has a much weaker reaction.

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