News and Information

–Informative– In the US, quartz is primarily found in the Ouachita Mountains of southern Oklahoma and Arkansas, which are composed mostly of folded, Ordovician-aged sedimentary rocks. The Ouachita Mountains formed during the collision of Gondwana and Laurasia in the Late Mississippian to Early Permian. During this mountain-building event, the rocks were folded. Phantom quartz displays…

–Informative– Occurs in the oxidized zone of lead and molybdenum depositsOrdinarily crystallizes as thin, beveled, square plates that have a resinous to adamantine luster, and they are yellow to orange in color. Fine natural crystals have been found in the Czech Republic, Mexico, the US, Austria, Germany, and Australia. –Interesting– Originally named “plumbum spatosum flavo-rubrum,…

–Informative– Selenite and Satin Spar are gypsum-based minerals and have a similar chemical composition, hydrated calcium sulfate. Most gypsum forms from the evaporation of salt waters. It may recrystallize in veins, forming Satin Spar, which is fibrous with a silky-transparent appearance. Selenite typically consists of colorless, transparent, elongated crystals but may be milky, yellow-white, gray,…