Quartz with Montmorillonite Inclusions
Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameQuartz with Montmorillonite Inclusions
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorscolorless, white, pink, pale brown
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityWhite Queen Mine, Hiriart Mountain, Pala District, San Diego County, California, USA
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usescollector's specimen, jewelry (if cut and polished)
Associated MineralsMontmorillonite
Rarityuncommon
Description
A large, polished or naturally faceted specimen of translucent to transparent quartz, exhibiting prominent feathery to dendritic inclusions of pinkish-white to pale brown montmorillonite throughout its body.
Geological Context
Quartz is a common rock-forming mineral found in various igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Montmorillonite, a clay mineral, typically forms from the alteration of volcanic ash or other silicate minerals, often in hydrothermal or weathering environments, here included within a quartz crystal.
