Quartz from Spruce Ridge, Washington, USA

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Colorless glassy gemmy scepter quartz crystal. In good condition.The Spruce Claim (often referred to as the Spruce 16 Claim) located in King County, Washington, is a world-class mineral locality that has been actively operated for specimen collection since major organized efforts began in 1977 (with continuous active seasonal mining by private claimants ongoing to the present day). Geologically, the site is situated within the Cascade Range as part of the Snoqualmie Batholith (formed during the late Oligocene to early Miocene epochs). The mineralization is hosted within intrusive breccia pipes, which are cylindrical structures created by the violent ascent of hot volatiles near the top of shallow cooling plutonic intrusions. These explosive events fractured the surrounding granodiorite rock, creating open vugs and pathways filled by high-temperature acidic hydrothermal fluids that precipitated brilliant quartz crystals, brilliant striated pyrite, and associated carbonate and sulfide minerals.