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, 92 x 63 x 40 mm, 117 g, Husegg, Grimsel, BE

Smoky Quartz Cluster, 70 x 70 x 30 mm, 90 g, Husegg, Grimsel, BE

Quartz Point, 45 x 30 x 32 mm, 34 g, Anengletscher, Lötschental, VS

Lightly Coloured Amethyst, 57 x 65 x 62 mm, 121 g, Val Curnera, Cronda, GR

Quartz Cluster in Tessin Habitus with Double Terminated Point, 100 x 70 x 50 mm, Ofenhorn, Binntal, VS

Quartz Cluster in Tessin Habitus, 132 x 60 x 75 mm, 356 g, Ofenhorn, Binntal, VS

Large Needle Quartz Cluster, 230 x 80 x 35 mm, 340 g, Männlichen, BE

Two Connected Quartz Points, 80 x 85 x 95 mm, 535 g, Rhoneschlucht bei Ernen, VS

Quartz Cluster with some Chlorite on the Base, 170 x 110 x 80 mm, 1325 g, Gauligletscher, BE

Quartz Cluster with some Chlorite and Adularia, 115 x 90 x 90 mm, 487 g, Gauligletscher BE

Wild Fadenquartz Cluster, 140 x 135 x 120 mm, 1532 g, Gauligletscher BE

Fadenquartz with Chlorite Phantom, 20 x 15 x 45 mm, 3 g, Gauligletscher BE

Double Terminated Chisel Quartz, 25 x 20 x 30 mm, 2 g, Rhoneschlucht bei Ernen, VS

Wild Slightly Smoky Quartz Cluster, 245 x 210 x 150 mm, 4372 g, Göscheneralp, UR

Quartz Point in Transition Habit, 50 x 45 x 128 mm, 308 g, Rhoneschlucht bei Ernen, VS

Quartz Duo, 70 x 65 x 145 mm, 547 g, Marmotta Pocket, Grimsel, BE