Quartz on Quartz with Calcite

$800.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

3,403 for sale·Member since 2026

Instead of a messy scramble of crystals, this miniature specimen features one dominant, razor-sharp, sand-colored calcite rhomb anchored right in the middle, beautifully cradled by two prominent bone-white quartz crystals. The quartz shows an unusual formation of selective etching that reveals two distinct generations of growth. Etching is typically messy and destructive, but here it was incredibly precise—following the epitaxial growth plane of the quartz and hollowing out the insides of the "cap" into an almost skeletal formation. While the calcite rhombs are vitreous, the quartz crystals range beautifully from jagged to glassy. The secondary generation of calcite rhombs grew after the first etching event and underwent another etching, but this time less corrosive than the first, leaving the calcite rhombs slightly frosted. When you flip on the UV lights, the specimen reveals its final secret, putting on a brilliant dual show with both calcite generations igniting electric red under SW and honey-yellow under LW. It’s a dynamic, beautifully arranged oddball that would make a fantastic addition to any quartz suite or mineral collection. From a one-time find in April of 2026, very few specimens were associated with calcite and these are even in China at a high premium compared to loose crystals and clusters.