Quartz v. Amethyst (Japan Law Twin)

Quartz v. Amethyst (Japan-Law) with Calcite

Tonglushan Mine

Daye County

Hubei Province

China

Size: Miniature

This amazing quartz v. amethyst (japan-law twin) comes from one of the most historically important mining regions in all of China.  Archeological excavations at the Tonglushan Ancient Copper Mine site (a 2 square kilometer area) has established this area as having the longest history and biggest scale of exploitation among the known ancient mines of China.  The mines in this area have been active since the time of the Chinese bronze culture, whose original settlements go back to the beginning of the Shang Dynasty, firmly dated at 1766-1121 B.C.  This specimen comes from a currently operating, large open-pit copper mine which is near these ancient mine workings.

Amethyst Japan-law quartz twins are extremely uncommon and are almost unheard of in the large size exhibited on this specimen.   The primary twinned quartz crystal group measures 6 cm across x 5.2 cm tall … simply huge for an amethyst japan-law twin.   One side of the quartz twin features a minor overgrowth of reddish-white (iron stained) calcite scalenohedrons.   The twinned crystal rests on a matrix of 3 prismatic amethyst crystals and calcite.   The color of the primary crystal ranges from slightly amethystine in the center to a very pleasing, light amethyst purple at the terminations.  The crystals are very lustrous and gemmy.               

This is a “must have” specimen for the serious quartz collector and would be an important addition to any advanced collection.      

Price: $7,000.00 net