Ferruginous quartz cluster

Ferruginous quartz clusterLocale: Morocco Approx dimensions: 2. 5 x 2 x 1", longest crystal 5. 5 cm Approx weight: 88g Known as red or ferruginous (iron bearing) quartz, this unusual variety of quartz gets its color from iron oxides, typically hematite. The quartz in this specimen initially grew colorless; broken crystals along the edge reveal the quartz crystals have a clear core bordered by a thin top layer of almost chocolatey brick red quartz. A change occurred during the

Locale: Morocco

Approx dimensions: 2.5 x 2 x 1", longest crystal 5.5 cm

Approx weight: 88g

Known as red or ferruginous (iron-bearing) quartz, this unusual variety of quartz gets its color from iron oxides, typically hematite. The quartz in this specimen initially grew colorless; broken crystals along the edge reveal the quartz crystals have a clear core bordered by a thin top layer of almost chocolatey brick-red quartz. A change occurred during the growth process that introduced fine iron oxide inclusions that give the top layer deep color.

Ferruginous quartz is typically fairly opaque due to the density of iron oxide inclusions. This piece is quite dark but the main crystal has some translucency with backlighting. The surface texture on the main point is an intriguing patchwork of red druzy on and intergrowing with a translucent surface layer. There are black spheres of hematite spotting the point, trapped in the quartz.

The main quartz point is double terminated with unusual termination at the base (shown in picture 3). Two main faces meet at a junction down the center of the point, and the other faces are very small. A clean smaller 'sidekick' red quartz point grows near the base. The pair are atop a broken mishmash of quartz and red druzy.