Faden quartz
The name refers to the white line running through this stack of crystals, coming from the German word for thread. These distinctive forms are born in cracks within the country rocks that are slowly widening, repeatedly ripping the growing crystal apart before it reheals during the next stage of growth. The repetition of the process leaves an unhealed line of gas and fluid inclusion veils after the last rip, forming the threadlike faden. It usually forms in Alpine environments, as the growth of mountains repeatedly fissures rocks while they are bathed in silica rich solutions of deep Earth waters. The beauty in the photo measures 6.0 x 2.2 x 0.5 cm
Loz
Image credit: Rob Lavinsky/iRocks.com
