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

Needle Quartz Cluster, 60 x 45 x 35 mm, 61 g, Männlichen, BE

Quartz Point with Needle Quartz, 60 x 40 x 65 mm, 77 g, Männlichen, BE

Quartz Point, 115 x 65 x 70 mm, 485 g, Wandfluh, Lötschental, VS

Quartz with Adularia, 65 x 70 x 65 mm, 197 g, Wandfluh, Lötschental, VS

Smoky Quartz, 50 x 37 x 68 mm, 72 g, Furka, VS

Quartz Point in Tessin Habit with Calcite, 25 x 20 x 35 mm, 15 g, Rhoneschlucht bei Ernen, VS

Fadenquartz Trio with Chlorite Phantom, up to 40 mm Height, 11 g, Gauligletscher BE (Copy)

Needle Quartz Cluster, Box 60 x 45 x 50 mm, 15 g, Val Bedretto, TI

Quartz Cluster mounted on Volcanic Rock, 40 x 40 x 33 mm, 28 g, Feldbachtal, Binntal, VS

Quartz Cluster mounted on Volcanic Rock, 80 x 44 x 54 mm, 74 g, Feldbachtal, Binntal, VS

Three Quartz Clusters mounted on Volcanic Rock, 125 x 36 x 65 mm, 156 g, Feldbachtal, Binntal, VS

Quartz Cluster in Tessin Habitus, 130 x 65 x 140 mm, 656 g, Ofenhorn, Binntal, VS

Quartz Cluster, 115 x 115 x 55 mm, 543 g, Sedrun, GR

Quartz Cluster with decayed Goethite, 120 x 50 x 65 mm, 215 g, Cavardiras, UR

Quartz Cluster on Matrix, 120 x 90 x 65 mm, 344 g, Cavardiras, UR

Epidote and Quartz, 35 x 20 x 15 mm, 8 g, Val Cavrein, GR