• The first of two lighting images: detail of a dark smoky quartz point, long and spindle-like and covered with a translucent layer of hyalite. The hyalite is blobby and a bit yellow-tinted, and it curls away from the edge of the quartz, giving it a frill.
  • The second of two lighting images: the point in the same position as the previous image, in low lighting and illuminated with UV light. The hyalite fluoresces a strong yellowish-green.
  • A side-view of the point, showing it is perched on an angled prism covered in small blade-like pieces of a white mineral. The hexagonal shape of the other broken prism is visible.
  • Detail of one side of the point, mostly covered in hyalite. There are nice growth forms on the quartz that is visible. The hyalite is a bit milky with and translucent compared to the usual clear glossy spheres.
  • The first of three lighting images: the full specimen, with the partial crystal jutting out to the left, and shard-like crystals on the base. The smoky quartz appears near-black.
  • The second of three lighting images: the specimen in the same position as the previous image, in dim light and illuminated with blue-tinted UV light. The hyalite fluoresces a strong yellowish-green and is thick on this piece.
  • The third of three lighting images: the specimen in the same position as the previous image, in dim light and illuminated with UV light. The hyalite fluoresces a strong yellowish-green with light blue overtone.
  • The piece held in a hand for scale, partially filling the hand. It is captioned "indirect sunlight" and the hyalite is glowing a light green color.
  • Short clip of the specimen in indirect sunlight, being turned and tilted to show all angles and reflect light off crystals, showing the smoky quartz has good striations. The hyalite has good daylight fluorescence, glowing a light yellow-green.
  • Detail of the hyalite on the tip of the point in the dark and illuminated with UV light. It is lumpy with botryoidal growth in a more translucent formation with a fuzzier UV reaction.
  • The first of two lighting images: detail of shard-like pieces of smoky quartz on the specimen covered with thick hyalite forming large colorless spheres with high luster, looking like bubbles on the surface.
  • The second of two lighting images: the point in the same position as the previous image, in low lighting and illuminated with UV light. The hyalite fluoresces a strong yellowish-green that is especially bright in the thicker growth. There is a light blue color to the thinner hyalite in the background.
  • Scale image of the point on a measuring mat, with the main point measuring a bit over three inches.
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Smoky quartz with hyalite

Smoky quartz with hyalite

$145.00 USD
$145.00 USD
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Locale: Erongo Mountain, Namibia

Approx dimensions: 3.75 x 2.5 x 1.5"

Approx weight: 229g

 

Smoky quartz from the Erongo region is typically a quite dark brown-black color, with lower clarity due to natural inclusions, and a flat surface luster caused by etching. It grows sculptural elongated points like a spindle, like this tapered point. The main smoky quartz point is over three inches and attached to several partial prisms and shard-like pieces. This specimen is absolutely thick with hyalite, giving the smoky quartz a witchy appearance. 

Smoky quartz gets its dark coloration from trace elements that tint dark when the quartz is exposed to natural radiation. Don’t worry, smoky quartz can't expose you to radiation—even if the hyalite turns "radioactive" green under UV light.

Hyalite is a form of opal, which in turn is part of the broader quartz family. Related minerals commonly grow together because they have similar requirements for growth: in this case, the availability of silica that is the basis for the quartz family. Growing conditions that initially produced quartz changed, and a later generation of growth deposited the less common hyalite on the specimen.

Hyalite displays botryoidal growth (bunches of “grape-like” round crystals) with a glossy high luster like a layer of bubbles. I think it looks like mermaid caviar! Hyalite can appear fluid with formations that look like the splash from a drip frozen in place, or as if the edge has been peeled up away from the quartz like a tutu. This is displayed especially well on this point, which looks as though a drip of paint landed on the tip.

UV reactivity Hyalite is so strongly UV reactive that you can see it in sunlight. Under indoor lighting it is pale yellow to golden in color, but turns visibly greenish yellow when exposed to the UV in sunlight. 395nm UV fluoresces a strong green, with an icy blue undertone. Best viewed in darker conditions. 365nm UV fluoresces a strong yellowish-green color, generally visible even in bright lighting. No phosphorescence detected.

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