3.9" Green, Hedenbergite Included Quartz with Calcite - Mongolia

This specimen includes green quartz crystals that formed in association with sheets of hedenbergite included calcite, collected from the Huanggang Mines of Inner Mongolia. The green color of the quartz can be attributed to hedenbergite inclusions as well. These needle-like inclusions become apparent when looking at the crystal's termination and/or backlighting the crystals. The quartz crystals at the center of the calcite feature an unusual quartz formation known as "interrupted quartz". The formation of the quartz was hindered by the calcite, resulting in oddly shaped quartz crystals.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.

About Quartz

Quartz is the name given to silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust. Quartz crystals generally grow in silica-rich environments--usually igneous rocks or hydrothermal environments like geothermal waters--at temperatures between 100°C and 450°C, and usually under very high pressure. In either case, crystals will precipitate as temperatures cool, just as ice gradually forms when water freezes. Quartz veins are formed when open fissures are filled with hot water during the closing stages of mountain formation: these veins can be hundreds of millions of years old.

About Calcite Crystals

Calcite crystals are a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) known for their diverse shapes, transparency, and vibrant range of colors. They typically form in rhombohedral, scalenohedral, or prismatic shapes, often with well-defined, sharp edges and glossy surfaces. Calcite crystals are often translucent or transparent, sometimes displaying a double refraction effect where objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled. They can appear in various colors—white, clear, yellow, pink, blue, green, and orange—depending on impurities or trace minerals.

A notable characteristic of calcite is its reaction with weak acids like vinegar, which causes it to effervesce, or fizz, as it releases carbon dioxide. This property makes calcite crystals a key tool in geological identification and studies. Calcite forms in many environments, from sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble to hydrothermal veins.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Quartz var. Prase (Hedenbergite inclusions) & Calcite
LOCATION
Huanggang Mines, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia
SIZE
3.9 x 3.2"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#163992