Alpine Treasures 41
Cavradi, Val Curnera, Tujetsch, Graubünden, Switzerland
Size: 8.7 x 5.1 x 2.4 cm
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The single quartz crystal that protrudes from the top of the grey rock matrix has absolutely stunning quality! It is water-clear, has wet-look luster and razor-sharp edges all around! The lower half has inclusions of matrix and individual hematite crystals which provides a vivid inner live.
The matrix is nicely crystallized on all sides. Overall this is a spectacular specimen of highest quality and attractive composition!
Galenstock, Rhone Glacier, Wallis, Switzerland
Size: 2.4 x 2.3 x 2.3 cm
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A lovely little singel crystal fluorite from a new find on Galenstock in Switzerland. It is a splendid octahedron with great luster and surface structure. The interior is transparent and has a rather intensive red color, especially for such a small crystal. The condition is overall very good. Only one tip has a chip, the others are perfect. The backside shows the imprint of a quartz on which tip the fluorite must have grown.
Val Giuv, Tujetsch, Vorderrhein Valley, Graubünden, Switzerland
Size: 11.9 x 7.7 x 5.7 cm
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This is a particularly nice and well shaped skeletal smoky quartz from the Val Giuv.
The interior is crystal clear, the surface is finely structured and largely undamaged.
Only at the bottom is a chip present but which is hardly discernible because of the vivid surface structure of the quarz.
A distinctly three-dimensional, beautiful smoky quartz sculpture!
The left picture shows the piece with direct backlight, the right picture is in natural light only.
Fibbia, Fontana, Central St. Gotthard Massif, Ticino, Switzerland
Size: 5.7 x 4.7 x 4.3 cm
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This hematite from Fibbia is an excellent piece, which shines with a particularly compact and complex hematite aggregate! On a glittering white matrix sits the 3.6 cm long and 2.2 cm wide structure of nested hematite crystals and red rutiles scattered above them. The hematite is metallic, high-gloss, sharp-edged and undamaged. At the top end it protrudes a bit above the matrix, here too it is perfect. The matrix itself is nicely crystallized, even on the backside. A stunning specimen in every respect!
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Most striking here is the spectacularly glassy quality of the individual crystals, which are distinctly three-dimensionally arranged. Best wet-look luster and complete transparency with only few internal cracks or intergrowth with thin rutile needles here and there. All main crystals are perfect. The only downside is a broken side-crystal on the back.
Goldzechkees, Rauris, Zell am See, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 8.7 x 4.7 x 4.3 cm
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Citrine is a special rarity that is very difficult to find from the Alps. This single crystal from a 2018 find at Goldzechkees at the rear and of the Rauris valley is highly lustrous and completely undamaged. While the lower part is milky white, the crystal shows a clear yellowish zone towards the tip. Admittedly, this color is not overly intense, but there is probably no such thing as a deep yellow quartz from the Alps. Our picture and also the video convey a realistic idea of how the color and quality are.
Cavradi, Val Curnera, Tujetsch, Graubünden, Switzerland
Size: 4.5 x 3.3 x 2.5 cm
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The special thing about this piece is certainly the nice and clear aesthetics. A single, disc-like, high-gloss and sharply pronounced 2.5 cm hematite plate sits on a group of transparent and shiny quartz. The hematite is covered with comparatively thick and intense red rutile crystals. On closer inspection, one notices that the radially arranged rutile crystals do not only sit "on" the hematite, but are actual building blocks of the hematite/rutile disc and thus catch the light from behind like windows and let it through to the front in bright red. Like the rays of a rising sun.
Planggenstock, Göscheneralp, Göschenen Valley, Uri, Switzerland
Size: 15.9 x 11.6 x 11.3 cm
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It is truly a monumental and three-dimensionally breathtaking specimen! Planggenstock might be much better known for its world class fluorites but this specimen shows that spectacular quartz can be found there too.
Brilliant, glassy quartz crystals are set on a naturally formed granite matrix. The crystals are grown on front and backside and show a nice interplay of larger and small crystals, all of which are in very best condition.
While the front shows more of the beautiful matrix, the backside is completely overgrown with larger crystals.
Looking at the bottom you will see that even here, the quartz is completely crystallized and not broken.
At midhight you can see a deep gap in the matrix which must be very old as there is crystallization visible inside too.
A wonderful piece that has a very natural and capturing aesthetic as well as impressive size!
Furkapass, Kanton Wallis, Switzerland
Size: 6.6 x 4.8 x 3 cm
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Like two crystals were melted together and formed this striking dark smoky quartz. The overall shape is what makes this piece unique. With its broad front face and the two chisel-tip terminations is has a remarkable presence. It is sharp and free of damage, highly lustrous and has a stunning dark brown color. Near the base you can see a small cluster of quartz side-crystals which adds much to the already striking appearance.
Maschingraben, Rauris, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 7.9 x 5.3 x 3.8 cm
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In addition to the fact that the main quartz is a complete and undamaged doubly-terminated crystal, I particularly like its inner workings. Beneath the high-gloss surface is a vibrant chlorite landscape that almost completely fills the crystal and is enclosed all around by a water-clear layer of quartz. The main crystal is accompanied by a group of secondary crystals, some of which are also doubly-terminated and show very nice quality. Our video reveals a better view on this marvelous and vibrant specimen!
Teischnitztal, Dorfer Tal, Kals, East Tyrol, Austria
Size: 4.1 x 1.9 x 2.1 cm
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This little floater specimen holds a group of very fine titanite crystals in association with white calcite and greenish chlorite. The titanites show nice transparency and strong greass green color. Condition is great with only some peripheral issues but all the main crystals intact. Absolutely lovely in person!
Turbhorn, Binntal, Wallis, Switzerland
Size: 13.4 x 6.2 x 4.4 cm
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This piece features a single 9.2 cm long quartz sitting aesthetically on a piece of matrix overgrown with fine calcite. The crystal is transparent, lustrous, sharp-edged and in excellent condition. Only at one point on the backside, where an internal crack reaches the surface, a small ding is visible. Through the crystal runs a distinctive white "faden". The corresponding growth irregularity can also be seen on the surface. Take a look on our video for a better impression!