Dr Greg's Santa Fe Quartz Gallery - Large Sized Specimens
CATALOGUED ITEMS:
Herein are shown hard to find large specimens of various types of Santa Fe New Mexico quartz, hand-collected from surface quartz fields; all natural, only given a pressure spray water cleaning. All the quartz that I have found come from Santa Fe area hillsides, particularly near their tops. I do not know why this is true. It may have to do with weathering exposure of outcropping veins.
Below are miscellaneous individual rock views showing their tops, bottoms, sides, standing, or close-ups; as high resolution pictures, scaled down to 200x200 pixel thumbnails. Click on any thumbnail to see the image's full resolution in a separate window.
The pictured ruler is 12" long.
Snow Quartz = I use this term to refer to a type of translucent white quatz, which on its surface, looks a bit like frozen snow glistening in the sun light. This is due to its many facets. I presume these facets form as part of the process of sealing in microscopic air bubbles during volcanic material cooling, as is the usual explanation for the formation of white quartz.
Red Quartz = I use this term to refer to a type of opaque shiny red quatz, which is common in the hillsides of Santa Fe. It typically forms in thin compressed layers that altogether can have a block-like look, almost like basalt. As a consequence of these thin layers and small blocks, it fractures easily along both lines. However, fairly stable forms of it can be found, which are beautiful (see Item 12).
Patina = I use this term to refer to anything appearing on the rock's surface. Typically there is one surface of the rock, which is rough and red, where it broke off the motherlode quartz outcropping. I typically put this side down, when displaying the rock where it lives; however, for full disclosure reasons, one of my below photos will try to intentionally reveal this feature, sometimes visible coming from one side.
Matrix = I use this term to refer to small bands of unknown impurities visble in the rock itself. I have learned from observing quartz motherlode outcroppings that over time these can become cleavage fractures. This causes large (and small) chucks to break off the motherlode outcropping. In the rock specimens I collect these matrices are stable and have survived intact for untold seasons on the ground. They should not fracture further, whether displayed indoors or outdoors, unless dropped from 4 feet or more on a hard surface. So, if handled with reasonable care, these specimens should remain intact indefinitely. There are a few exceptions to this rule, which I note below when relevant; especially with red quartz, like Item 11, having poly-conglomerate snow quartz and mica inclusions. I think these quartz rocks are the most beautiful, but also the most delicate; so, they are probably best displayed indoors.
Item 1. Snow Quartz Block With Rose and Black Patina & Matrix (9", 8.4 lbs).
Item 2. Snow Quartz Block With Rose Patina & Matrix (8", 7.0 lbs).
Item 3. Snow Quartz Block With Rose Patina & Matrix (9", 5.6 lbs).
Item 4. Snow Quartz Block With Rose and Black Patina & Matrix (13", 36.0 lbs).
Item 5. Snow Quartz With Rose Patina & Matrix (17", 26.0 lbs).
Item 6. Green Aventurine Quartz Block With Striations (9", 16.0 lbs).
Item 7. Red Quartz Slab With Snow Quartz Inclusions and Metallic Shimmering Mica Patina (10", 16.8 lbs).
Item 8. Rosy Snow Quartz Block With Rose Patina & Matrix, And Moss Rock Patch (13", 36.0 lbs).
Item 9. Snow Quartz Block With Rose and Black Patina & Matrix (17", 33.6 lbs).
Item 10. Snow Quartz Slab With Rose and Black Patina & Matrix (12", 7.4 lbs).
Item 11. Nearly Pure Snow Quartz Block With Very Slight Rose and Black Patina & Matrix (8", 9.0 lbs).
Item 12. Red Quartz Block With Poly-Conglomerate Snow Quartz & Mica Inclusions (12", 16.0 lbs). I think this is the most beautiful quartz rock in my collection. It appeals to my aesthetics. I never fail to marvel at it. However, this specimen is more delicate than most, being a quartz conglomerate type. Probably best for indoor display; however, that said it must be fairly stable, because before being added to this sales gallery now, it was sitting outdoors on our property for 1 year through a severe winter and hot summer without lossing any material.
Item 13. Mica Infused Greenish Quartz Slab With Bright Surface Reflectance (9", 5.2 lbs). This rock is an unusual example of a type of mica-dominated rock found in this area. It is formed in compressed layers of very fine quartz and mica material through and through. When held in any bright light either surface shimmers intoxicatingly. Lay on the ground in a location that gets direct sunlight, and marvel when passing by it. This specimen is unusual in that it is shiny throughout. Normally this shiney material is found on only on one adhered surface layer, like in Item 7.
Item 14. "Old Man Rock Ridge" - Weathered Look, Solid Conglomerate Quartz Block With Spendid Mixtures Of Red Quartz, Snow Quartz, Blackish Matrix, and Moss Rock Patches (11", 26.0 lbs).
Items 12-45. Coming Soon...
(gallery will be completed by March 18...)
This Page Last Updated by Greg Colello on March 17, 2018.