Quartz

Rock crystal/Quartz

Colourless quartz crystals are usually called rock crystal. They were formed during the geological formation of the Alps, caused by pressure from the African continental plate, which began to slide under the European continental plate about 135 million years ago. During this process, cavities, so-called fissures, were formed and filled with hot, aqueous solutions.

These hydrothermal waters dissolved mineral substances from the surrounding rock and, depending on their composition, crystals were formed at temperatures between 300 and 400 degrees and under enormous pressure of up to 3000 psi.

Recently found traces of prehistoric human activity in the Cavardiras region, which obviously searched for and mined quartz for the production of tools, suggest that crystals were already being searched for in our mountains long before the ancient Romans.

Photo: Group of rock crystals from Piz Regina GR, Felix Spahr collection; not for sale.

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Quartz

Smoky Quartz Cluster, 80 x 25 x 40 mm, 64 g, Galenstock, VS

Smoky Quartz Cluster, 95 x 60 x 48 mm, 172 g, Husegg, Grimsel, BE

Needle Quartz Cluster, 140 x 125 x 60 mm, 749 g, Männlichen, BE

Needle Quartz Cluster, 110 x 40 x 30 mm, 79 g, Männlichen, BE

Quartz Cluster with few Haematite Inclusions, 50 x 40 x 50 mm, 81 g, Cavradischlucht, Val Cavrein, GR

Phantom Quartz with Chlorite Inclusions, 20 x 25 x 60 mm, 49 g, Schinschlucht, GR

Quartz with Turmaline Inclusions, 35 x 30 x 30 mm, 26 g, Cavagnoli, TI

Amethyst, 95 x 65 x 50 mm, 316 g, Fieschergletscher, VS

Quartz with Epidote and Actinolite, 150 x 85 x 80 mm, 699 g, Val Cavrein, GR

Quartz Point, 45 x 25 x 55 mm, 42 g, Val Cavrein, GR

Smoky Quartz Cluster, 130 x 75 x 45 mm, 345 g, Feldschijen, Göscheneralp, UR

Quartz Cluster with Two Points, 85 x 40 x 50 mm, 175 g, Sedrun, GR

Double Terminated Sceptre Amethyst on Quartz, 90 x 130 x 140 mm, 1309 g, Fieschergletscher, VS

Amethyst as Second Generation Growth on Quartz, 85 x 140 x 115 mm, 1128 g, Chummibort, Binntal, VS

Double Terminated Amethyst Sceptre on Quartz, 30 x 25 x 45 mm, 28 g, Mättital, Blattjegrat, Binntal, VS

Lightly Coloured Amethyst as Second Generation Growth on Quartz, 48 x 43 x 30 mm, 156 g, Chummibort, Binntal, VS