Chalcedony Covering Quartz Geode
Update: 10/23/17 It has been pointed out that this could possibly be chalcedony instead of the original hyalite that was guessed. I've updated the title to reflect that until I've properly tested it.
Update: 10/26/17 Was not able to scratch it with a 7 mohs hardness pick. That would make it chalcedony. Article updated.
This was an interesting specimen that I got while looking for fluorescent quartz. The seller showed me a poor quality UV photo and claimed that the quartz was responding to the UV light. Unfortunately this is one of those times where I took the risk and it failed. While it was fluorescent, it wasn't the quartz itself that was fluorescing. Instead, there is a secondary formation of chalcedony. I can'tfault it as a daylight specimen though. It has many wonderful quartz crystals that are well formed. As a photographer it provides a very interesting contrast that many would not have experienced while collecting geodes. The background is fluorescent providing a light colored background amongst the darker non-fluorescing quartz.
Locale: Nuevo Corral, Ruby District, Arizona
Weight: 15.9oz | 451g
Dimensions: 3.6 x 2.2 x 3.5 in | 91 x 55 x 90 mm
Calcite with Quartz
Update 4/8/25 - After talks with Peter Megaw, a subject matter expert on many Mexican locales, I believe this piece to be from the El Carmen Mine in the West Camp. According to Peter, it was mined in the early 90s.
Found at a local rock shop by myself. As usual the owners had no idea that this specimen fluoresced. All to my benefit! This is an absolutely gorgeous Halloween combination of fluorescent orange calcite and green quartz. I actually didn't notice that there was fluorescent orange when I had first bought it. I just knew that the quartz was fluorescing - a rarity in the hobby. Fluorescence is primarily shortwave but some of the quartz crystals fluoresce orange under longwave! Also of note is that there is a small outcrop of micro fluorite crystals (approximately 1mm in size) that fluoresce red, another rarity. The combination of the two makes this an exceptionally special specimen in my books.
Locale: El Carmen Mine, West Camp, Mexico
Weight: 175g
Dimensions: 98 x 69 x 36 mm
Petroleum Quartz
This was purchased by me from a miner named Nasir Munir in April 2017. He and his friends have visited the Balochistan area to collect specimens like this one. At the time of purchase petroleum quartz specimens on matrix were incredibly rare. You would only see them on sale for exuberant prices $1000+. However, thanks to his efforts specimens like this are now available for affordable prices. It was quite interesting getting to know Nasir and seeing a completely different perspective. For example, much like sites over here in the US you pay a fee in order to go collecting for minerals. Unlike here this helps fund an army presence to guard the border from insurgents. Also unlike here there are very strict guidelines. Legal documents proving your citizenship are required, photos are absolutely not allowed, and only the tools provided can be used.
I showed Nasir several photos of the collecting site I found off Mindat and he says that it's changed quite a bit thanks to an army presence and insurgents. Quite a terrifying thought just imagining that someone could potentially be shot at while enjoying the hobby. I also asked Nasir to write the names of the area in his native language out of curiosity. The Urdu writing just looks beautiful to me and to see it handwritten by a local makes this quite an enjoyable purchase for me.
Of interest is that there seems to be two different activators. One blue and the other yellowish green
Location: Balochistan, Pakistan
Dimensions: 71x67x21 mm
Weight: 100g
