Microcline from Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

This striking mineral specimen from Pakistan showcases a beautiful combination of white microcline feldspar perched on a bed of cleavelandite, with quartz crystals adding a sparkling accent. The microcline, a potassium-rich feldspar, displays its characteristic blocky, angular formations, and its pristine white color contrasts beautifully with the delicate, bladed crystals of cleavelandite, a variety of albite feldspar. The quartz, often clear or slightly milky, grows alongside the feldspar, offering additional brilliance with its well-formed, transparent points. Together, these minerals create a harmonious and aesthetic display, exemplifying the geological richness of Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges, particularly in the Skardu region known for such stunning mineral finds.