Specimen at a glance
| Mineral | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | SiO2 |
| Mohs hardness | 7 |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Form | Lot / parcel |
| You receive | The exact lot pictured |
About this specimen
A trio of naturally doubly terminated quartz crystals, sold together as one set. Each grew free-floating in a pocket rather than anchored to a wall, which is why both ends carry complete pyramidal terminations instead of a broken contact point — the habit collectors call a double terminated or floater crystal.
The three differ enough to be interesting side by side. The first is water-clear and gemmy, with internal healed fractures that throw rainbow flashes as the light moves across them. The second is the largest, part clear and part frosted, with a rough secondary growth face along one side stained tan-orange by limonite — iron oxide left behind as groundwater worked through the pocket. The third is a warm golden-amber crystal shot through with dark carbon-rich inclusions, a look that turns up wherever quartz crystallised inside organic-rich sedimentary rock.
Quartz is silicon dioxide, Mohs 7, with no cleavage — hard enough to handle and display without worry, though terminations can chip if knocked against something harder. Clean with warm water and a soft brush, and skip the ultrasonic on any crystal with visible internal fractures.
These came to us without a locality label, so they are listed as what they demonstrably are — natural doubly terminated quartz — rather than guessing at a mine or region. Sold as the exact three crystals photographed.
Quartz: the science
- Every natural quartz crystal has a six-sided prism capped by a point, the same trigonal geometry whether it is a thumbnail or a meter long.
- Quartz is piezoelectric: squeeze it and it produces a tiny voltage. That property is why quartz keeps time in watches and electronics.
- At Mohs 7 it scratches glass and steel, which is why quartz sand is the main abrasive in nature and why quartz outlasts almost everything on a beach.
Go deeper
Want the full story on quartz: how it forms, how to identify it, and what makes a great specimen?
Questions about this piece
What is quartz?
Quartz is crystalline silicon dioxide and one of the most common minerals in Earth’s crust. Clear, well-formed points and clusters grow in open cavities and veins where silica-rich fluids had room and time to crystallize.
How hard is it, and how should I care for it?
It rates 7 on the Mohs scale. Quartz is Mohs 7 and very durable. Dust with a soft brush or rinse in lukewarm water and air dry. Avoid knocking points together and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Is this the exact lot I will receive?
Yes. This lot was photographed as a group, and you receive the pieces shown.
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