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Quartz

Amethyst

MNHN N°196.226

visu_535 infos
FROM : Pointe des améthystes, massif du Mont Blanc, Savoie, France
SIZE : 3.5 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm

general description

This is a well-crystallized sceptre quartz. Its upper part is an amethyst and there is a smoked pole of quartz.

This sample was discovered in August 1996 near the Pointe des améthystes in Mont Blanc Massif by Erik Gonthier who was shooting for the film "Trésor des cimes". The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle obtained this specimen thanks to support from Total.

It is today kept in the storage rooms of the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelles (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography : A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.
The Species page
Identity card
SPECIE : Quartz
VARIETY :Amethyst

HISTORY : Name inspired by "quarz", old german word "querch" meaning dwarf

Species known since Prehistory

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Si O 2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Rhomboedric
COLOR : Colourless, white, pink, violett, black, yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous to greasy
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, massive, aggregates
HARDNESS : 7
DENSITY : 2,66

CHEMICAL CLASS : IV - Oxides and hydroxide
GROUP : Quartz
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 4/D.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 4.DA.05
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