Description

Detailed Description

A striking specimen of light amethystine quartz crystals. This is cactus quartz, and the second-generation is very finely crystallized. What makes it striking is that the second generation of crystals grew more prominently along the edges of certain prism faces, giving the appearance of raised edges and slightly hollowed faces. The first generation crystal faces are bright and lustrous with no second-generation growth. In excellent condition, this is a beautiful display piece from the John S. White quartz collection.

About Cactus Quartz

Cactus quartz crystals are primary quartz crystals the prism faces of which (but not tops of the terminal, pyramidal faces) are covered with a second generation of smaller crystals. It has also been called “pineapple quartz” and marketed by some as “spirit quartz”. The second generation quartz crystals typically point outward from the first generation crystals upon which they grew, but there is no specific crystallographic orientation in cactus quartz – for example, they do not grow outwards at 90 degrees (or any other specific angle) from the primary quartz.