The Crystal Circle
Specimen: Standard Gallery: Standard
Zoisite Var. Tanzanite
Zoisite Var. Tanzanite
Merelani Mine, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Danburite rough and cut
Danburite rough and cut
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Lapis Lazuli (polished and carved)
Lapis Lazuli (polished and carved)
Sar-e-Sang, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Adamite on Limonite
Adamite on Limonite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Opal var. Hyalite
Opal var. Hyalite
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Dioptase
Dioptase
Altyn-Tyube, Karagandy Oblast, Kazakhstan
Quartz with 4-phase petroleum inclusions

Quartz with 4-phase petroleum inclusions

sold
Locality
Zhob Baluchistan, Pakistan
Minerals
Quartz
Dimensions
3.0 x 2.7 x 1.5 cm
Size class
Thumbnail
SID
QUARTZ40

This is a fine example of this uncommon form of Quartz. It is a four phase inclusion in a double terminated Quartz crystal found in central Pakistan within the last year. It is highly fluorescent under both short wave and long wave (LW pictured). The long wave makes the petroleum fluoresce yellow, the short wave brings out the more reds and blues.  There is one prominent moving bubble in the center of the crystal that moves freely. The gas bubble formed when the the Quartz cools after forming, the petroleum contracts more than the Quartz because it is less dense, it pulls a vacume within the fluid thus creating a "gas" bubble.  The four phases are: the gas bubble trapped in the petroleum, the petroleum itself, a darker brown previously organic material, and black carbon inclusions. I learned this from an insightful geologist who specializes in Quartz inclusions, whom I met at the Tucson Main show in 2010. This one is a tabulr crystal that is single terminated, although it is not broken (the bottom is rehealed). It has a little chipping along an edge, Overall in good condition, this piece is a great example of the brown (ex-organic) inclusion next to the pastel yellow petroleum inclusion. It weighs 13 grams.

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