![]() Sometimes just two halves that fit back together. Rarely, faulted crystals are recovered, sometimes healed back together, but with an offset of the two pieces. Unusual forms and highly distorted forms often come from pockets formed by multiple fracture episodes. ![]() Ron Coleman mine, near Jessieville, Garland County, AR Regrowth on a natural fracture near the termination of a large quartz crystal. Many of the early-formed quartz veins were in fractures, which because they were in a weak spot in the ground, were reopened by later earth movement. Natural breakage is due to movements of the earth along fractures and faults. Very small chips or dings (as they are called) can be tolerated if the specimen is otherwise aesthetically interesting. Anytime you see quartz piled up on a table, it will be difficult to find an undamaged specimen. The key question is: Is it natural and rehealed breakage or did the specimen get damaged due to mishandling by whoever collected and/or cleaned it? Externally flawless specimens from Arkansas are relatively scarce, due to both reasons mentioned above. If the crystal contains fractures or flaws (cracks), then it is not as valuable as if it is internally flawless. You would expect to pay more for a coffee table-sized quartz cluster than for one you can easily hold in your hand! However, with a truly rare mineral which has never been reported as anything but microscopic crystals, then size of individual crystals is not really so important.Ĭondition may include these other factors: Given all other factors equal, bigger is more expensive. Size (or Carat) In both common and rare minerals, size usually does matter. Generally speaking of Arkansas quartz, the lack of color, rather than being milky, makes the value of the crystal increase. In this case, color relates to being a more rare specimen, and if it is aesthetically pleasing, it will be more valuable. This color is caused by radiation, and only certain locations are known to produce these smoky crystals. In Arkansas crystals, there are naturally occurring smoky crystals that have a light brown to grey color. "Crystal clear" either came from quartz crystal or from blown glass crystal ware, but you get the idea.Īside from its clearness making the crystal more valuable, there are certain colors you will find in quartz. If the entire crystal is clear from tip to base, then it has more value than if partly milky. How transparent is the crystal to light? If milky from tip to base, then the value is less than if the tip or termination is transparent. "Cut" is not applicable here, but maybe we could substitute "condition", which would include flaws or breakage. Clarity, color, carat, and cut are the buzz words for gems. In gemstones, the 4 "C's" are the determining factors when grading a stone, and to some extent those C's extend to crystals. we may not be able to define it well, but we certainly know it when we see it. The overall appearance counts toward beauty. ![]() Please remember "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." And that "beauty" may be precisely what makes one crystal more pricey than another. Several factors enter into determining the "value" of any mineral specimen. What are Quartz Crystals Worth? Putting a value on quartz cryst als
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