large smoky quartz crystals

[slottechaj]

I've Been Finding Large Smoky Quartz Crystals at A secret Little Spot For Several years. Everything From Pea Sized To Large Terminated Crystals, And Everything From Black To rock Crystal. they're Near A Creek Some Have Been Washed Out But Most Are Just Randomly In The clay And Pegmatite. Some Are Very Nice Specimens Others Are Chips And What Looks Like Crystals That Have Come Off Their Matrix. Very Few Are Still On Rock And Matrix Of Any Kind. are They Growing Straight Out Of They Clay Or Did They Decay Out Of A Vein Or vug Into This conglomerate. some Of The Crystals Are Nearly Flawless Inside With Great Color. Would someone Use Them For LapidaryAnd What Could They Be Worth. I'm Wondering If It Would Be Worth Spending More Then A Few Days A Year Up There Digging.

 

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[slottechaj]

 

[BurntBear]

Those are more than just fish tank décor, but I like the idea, lol. They sound like they are part of an alluvial deposit from veins in the vicinity. They would be interesting collectors specimens and they could be cut as well. The value is more in the eye of the collector or lapidary artist cutting it. Very neat finds and please show more when you can. Welcome to TreasureNet! -Luke

 

[shaman15771]

We have a lot of smoky in our area to! SW Virginia. A big welcome to TN!

 

[Eu_citzen]

Since he said it was found in clay and pegmatite, I think he found where it originated from. Not alluvial, which is water transported.
If you find someone willing to buy the crystals/finds at the right price, yes, it can be worthwhile to dig into the hill.

Many finds in pegmatites occur with clay, which comes from the formation of the "pocket".

 

[BurntBear]

Ah, whoops, lol. Would that be a "residual" deposit?

I made a post that never showed up, lol. I read what he stated in the first post entirely wrong and thought he said "pea-SHAPED" not "pea-SIZED". That's why I brought up alluvial deposits. Thanks for keeping me straight EU!

 

[Flick420]

If I had the opportunity id dig in that area as much as possible, you never know what you might find and those are some nice large crystals. My dream is to find a small spot like that.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Ah, whoops, lol. Would that be a "residual" deposit?

No, the pegmatite is likely the origin of the crystals. Its the "source".

What can be found on the hill down to the creek is eluvium.

 

[slottechaj]

here's One That My Brother InLaw Found On His First Time Up There. Double Terminated.
It weighs 12 Pounds

 

[BurntBear]

That's sweet!

 

[DDancer]

Looks like you have a fine area to hunt in. Double terminated specimens are a great indicator for some really good crystals. Pockets of crystals found in decayed host rock are usually filled with clay however even the host rock vugs will be filled with it as well and that's where you'll find crystals with double terminations to have formed. Most crystals form on the walls of a vug. You might want to loam the area with a rake and shovel where your finding the highest numbers of crystals that have eroded out of the host rock. You may find plates with combinations of crystals.

 

[slottechaj]

Thanks For All The Comments Guys. My Kids broke Our Computer So I'm Using My Phone For Now That's Why I'veBeen So Slow To Comment. I'll post some More Pictures Of some Of The Other Rocks I've Found Around The Crystals. I've Found Muscovite, Feldspar, And garnet Also.

 

[BurntBear]

Very nice specimens! Love the "booked" Muscovite! Neat stuff. -Luke

 

[slottechaj]

burntBear eagleDown Passed!? I Loved Reading His Threads On Maripossa County. I would've loved To sit Down With Him And Listen To His stories. Feel Kind Of Bummed. I May Have Just Finally Joined Tn But I've Been sneaking On Here Reading His Stories For A Couple Years.

 

[niffler]

There might be other minerals like topaz and aquamarine beryl in the mix, I see the garnets on quartz in one of your pictures. I would love to facet some smoky quartz, but it is usually way too dark when I find it at Dismal Swamp here in Idaho. I love what you are finding, those smokies are incredible!

 

[slottechaj]

 

[slottechaj]

 

[niffler]

Nice!

 

[Eu_citzen]

Looks like your getting some quite gemmy pieces!