2.4" Dark Smoky Quartz with Amazonite - Three Point Claim, Colorado

This is a lustrous, dark smoky quartz crystal with a small teal amazonite crystal and cleavelandite at its base. The color is natural and has not been enhanced by heat treatment. It was mined at Three Point Claim in Teller County, Colorado.

Smoky quartz is a grey-brown to black variety of quartz. This common name is derived from the appearance of smoke within the quartz crystal. Depending on the location and the chemicals present during formation, smoky quartz can appear opaque black, but it is typically translucent to some extent. It is believed that the quartz gains this color from a combination of natural irradiation and aluminum impurities.

About Amazonite

Amazonite is a green variety of microcline feldspar that is the state mineral of Colorado. It has recently received a lot of attention for its prominence on the reality show “Prospectors”, which follows several groups of Colorado mineral miners. In fact, most of our amazonite is sourced from some of the prospectors on the show. High-quality crystals are found at several locations in Colorado, often in vugs associated with smoky quartz.

Its name comes from the Amazon River, where the mineral was originally thought to be found, though is now doubtful to occur in the region. Its distinct blue-green color was originally thought to be caused by copper content, but it is actually due to very small quantities of lead present in the mineral. The lead is locked away in the crystal structure so it poses no health risk from handling.


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Quartz var. Smoky, Amazonite & Cleavelandite
LOCATION
Three Point Claim, Teller County, Colorado
SIZE
2.4" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#330473