3.04 lbs Tangerine Hematoid Quartz with Hematite (3 pcs) - Collector Minerals L304
This set brings together in a single association two of the most appreciated presentations of quartz with iron oxides: Hematoid Quartz in its Tangerine variety and Hematite, also accompanied by zones of milky white and translucent amber-honey quartz. The term Tangerine designates quartz crystals coated by a thin granular layer of limonite / goethite (iron hydroxides) that gives them that vibrant and warm tangerine-orange / golden color, with a "sugary" texture and characteristic luster, while hematite provides the red-brown to dark-brown tones of a more earthy or sub-metallic appearance. The coexistence of both oxides on the same quartz is precisely what makes this lot a piece of great mineralogical and aesthetic interest.
The lot consists of 3 pieces of varied size with a combined weight of 3.04 lbs (1.380 kg), making them specimens of great presence, ideal both for prominent display in a showcase and for detailed study. As spectacularly revealed by the macro photographs, the pieces show a triple visual richness: on the one hand, quartz crystals with the granular and brilliant orange-tangerine tangerine coating that covers their faces while respecting the original rhombohedral / pseudo-cubic morphology; on the other, aggregates and crusts of hematite of red-brown tone that frame and contrast with the orange; and finally, zones of milky white and translucent amber-honey quartz, with notable vitreous luster and transparency, that emerge among the oxides providing luminosity and depth. In some points, even crystals of intense translucent amber/orange quartz can be appreciated, very attractive, which further enhance the warm palette of the whole.
From the point of view of its formation, this specimen is an excellent geological document: first the quartz crystallized (white and amber zones), and later, in a phase of oxidation and circulation of iron-rich fluids, goethite-limonite (generating the tangerine tone) and hematite (generating the red-brown) precipitated on the already formed crystals, following the geometry of the faces of the underlying quartz. That superposition of phases explains the play of colors and textures that is observed, and it is what gives the piece its three-dimensional character and its educational value, by illustrating in a single specimen the crystallization of quartz and two distinct stages of coating by iron oxides.
The matrix that supports these crystals is of ferruginous and earthy nature, in dark brown, ochre and orange tones, typical of the oxidation environments where these coatings develop. The contrast between the rustic opacity of the oxides, the warmth of the tangerine, the red of the hematite and the luminous transparency of the amber quartz creates a very balanced and elegant visual effect, characteristic of the finest specimens of this association.
Due to its color, contrast, rarity of the tangerine variety, size and variety of textures, this lot constitutes an exceptional opportunity for the collector looking for pieces with character, warm natural color and a visually very complete mineralogy. As revealed by the photographs, each piece offers a unique distribution of tangerine coating, hematite and translucent quartz on the ferruginous matrix, providing a complete and varied visual experience from any angle. It is an ideal selection both for mineralogical study and for prominent display in any collection.
Specimen Specifications:
- Quantity: 3 natural pcs.
- Total weight: 3.04 lbs (1.380 kg).
- Minerals: Tangerine Hematoid Quartz (limonite/goethite coating) with Hematite and amber quartz.
- Reference: 626 - Lot 304.
