January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:28 am

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:19 am 
Offline
Platinum Member

Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:40 pm
Posts: 2667
Location: South Dakota
Check out this video I did...some stop-motion and some regular video. I personally termed the "Labradorite quartz" =D> [-X (it's iridescent)

I have seen iridescence on quartz before but this particular specimen is unique because all the crystals have iridescence on each of the euhedral faces. I have never seen that before on a quartz specimen. Usually it's only on one crystal or on a couple faces on multiple crystals but never on all the crystals and on all the faces! This one was in my junk flats that I had passed over many times. It really amazes me the variety of different features and characteristics the quartz specimens show that come from Diamond Hill. I have been lucky enough to see many of the best collections of material from there and the variety is so unique and varied it never ceases to amaze me. The smoky and amethyst pretty much produce the same type stones with a few oddballs here and there but the odd pockets you find in and around the skeletal and amethyst pits can do some crazy things to crystals.


_________________
MrAmethystguy ~ Some jokes just fluorite over my head!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:50 am 
Offline
Platinum Member

Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:40 pm
Posts: 2667
Location: South Dakota
I was hoping the "check it out a must see" would bring everyone in...LOL
[chirp]....[chirp]...chirp]... :mrgreen:

_________________
MrAmethystguy ~ Some jokes just fluorite over my head!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:08 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
I might call it iris quartz, no?
http://www.mindat.org/article.php/1335/Iris+Quartz
As labradorite is clearly defined as a variety of feldspar.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:35 pm 
Offline
Platinum Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am
Posts: 2756
Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
My question is whether it's true "Iris Quartz" as defined by the mindat article, or whether the iridescence is caused by the following (mentioned in the same article):

"Colorless quartz crystals displaying interference colours in reflected light on the surface, caused by extremely thin surface films of limonite or other natural minerals – the same effect as caused by thin oil films on a puddle of rainwater"

_________________
Rick Martin

www.artcutgems.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:27 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran

Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:11 pm
Posts: 506
Location: Moncton, Canada
Very likely asurface feature as Rick suggests; "present on all faces" points to that; if it were due to internal structure one would expect it to vary with crystal orientation.

Cheers
Hans Durstling
Moncton Canada

_________________
Ecclesiastes 10:19


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:24 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Oh, that makes sense.
Maybe Jason will weigh in on it.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: "Labradorite quartz".....check it out a must see
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:58 pm 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
Posts: 4015
Location: North Carolina
Would it have to be an actual surface feature? It kind of looks like it's within the stone, perhaps covered by another episode of crystal growth. I have a couple of quartz crystals with an orange coating which is beneath a layer of clear quartz--in my mind, this makes them a lot nicer because they're less likely to wear off.

_________________
Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock