Description
This specimen features pale blue amazonite crystals intergrown with feldspar and accented by both hematite and smoky quartz. The amazonite appears in blocky, sharply defined, crystal forms, while warm reddish-brown hematite moves through the matrix, creating strong color contrast. A pocket of smoky quartz is partially concealed within the crystal structure, adding depth and a sense of discovery without dominating the surface presentation.
Dimensions & Weight
What is a Pegmatite and why are they so amazing?
Crystals that form as pegmatites are especially desirable because pegmatite environments allow minerals to grow exceptionally large, well-formed, and aesthetically striking crystals.. These environments cool very slowly and are rich in mineral-forming fluids, giving crystals the time and space needed to develop sharp faces, clean terminations, and impressive size. Pegmatites also commonly form open crystal pockets, which preserve crystal structure and result in specimens that are visually balanced, undamaged, and highly display-worthy.
Beyond beauty, pegmatites are prized for their complex mineral associations and rarity. A single specimen may feature multiple minerals growing together in intricate relationships, creating natural contrast and scientific interest. Many rare and exotic minerals form primarily in pegmatites, and each pegmatite pocket is geologically unique and non-repeatable. For collectors, this combination of scale, rarity, locality significance, and one-of-a-kind formation makes pegmatite crystals some of the most compelling and enduring pieces in any serious mineral collection.
Collector’s Notes
Pegmatite specimens from the Pikes Peak region that display multiple associated minerals are especially valued for their geological storytelling. In this piece, the hematite provides visible contrast and mineralogical interest, while the smoky quartz—hidden within a crystal pocket—offers a more subtle expression that reveals itself on closer inspection. This layered complexity makes the specimen particularly appealing to collectors who appreciate mineral relationships and unusual formations.
On a personal note, I made the choice to leave the hematite on this specimen because I felt the addition added to the piece instead of covering up the beauty like similarly stained specimens.
Highlights
Natural amazonite (microcline feldspar) on pegmatite
Associated hematite and smoky quartz present
Smoky quartz partially hidden within a crystal pocket
Classic Pikes Peak, Colorado locality
Strong geological character with layered mineral associations
Mineralogy
Amazonite is a blue-green variety of microcline feldspar, while smoky quartz is a naturally irradiated form of quartz and hematite is an iron oxide mineral. In the granitic pegmatites of the Pikes Peak region, these minerals commonly occur together as conditions shift during crystallization. Specimens showing all three minerals provide a clear snapshot of the evolving geochemical environment during formation.
Description
This specimen features pale blue amazonite crystals intergrown with feldspar and accented by both hematite and smoky quartz. The amazonite appears in blocky, sharply defined, crystal forms, while warm reddish-brown hematite moves through the matrix, creating strong color contrast. A pocket of smoky quartz is partially concealed within the crystal structure, adding depth and a sense of discovery without dominating the surface presentation.
Dimensions & Weight
What is a Pegmatite and why are they so amazing?
Crystals that form as pegmatites are especially desirable because pegmatite environments allow minerals to grow exceptionally large, well-formed, and aesthetically striking crystals.. These environments cool very slowly and are rich in mineral-forming fluids, giving crystals the time and space needed to develop sharp faces, clean terminations, and impressive size. Pegmatites also commonly form open crystal pockets, which preserve crystal structure and result in specimens that are visually balanced, undamaged, and highly display-worthy.
Beyond beauty, pegmatites are prized for their complex mineral associations and rarity. A single specimen may feature multiple minerals growing together in intricate relationships, creating natural contrast and scientific interest. Many rare and exotic minerals form primarily in pegmatites, and each pegmatite pocket is geologically unique and non-repeatable. For collectors, this combination of scale, rarity, locality significance, and one-of-a-kind formation makes pegmatite crystals some of the most compelling and enduring pieces in any serious mineral collection.
Collector’s Notes
Pegmatite specimens from the Pikes Peak region that display multiple associated minerals are especially valued for their geological storytelling. In this piece, the hematite provides visible contrast and mineralogical interest, while the smoky quartz—hidden within a crystal pocket—offers a more subtle expression that reveals itself on closer inspection. This layered complexity makes the specimen particularly appealing to collectors who appreciate mineral relationships and unusual formations.
On a personal note, I made the choice to leave the hematite on this specimen because I felt the addition added to the piece instead of covering up the beauty like similarly stained specimens.
Highlights
Natural amazonite (microcline feldspar) on pegmatite
Associated hematite and smoky quartz present
Smoky quartz partially hidden within a crystal pocket
Classic Pikes Peak, Colorado locality
Strong geological character with layered mineral associations
Mineralogy
Amazonite is a blue-green variety of microcline feldspar, while smoky quartz is a naturally irradiated form of quartz and hematite is an iron oxide mineral. In the granitic pegmatites of the Pikes Peak region, these minerals commonly occur together as conditions shift during crystallization. Specimens showing all three minerals provide a clear snapshot of the evolving geochemical environment during formation.
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