Large Tanzanian Tourmalated Quartz Sphere - 90mm, 1040g

Locality - Tanzania
Size – 90mm
Weight – 1040g

This quartz sphere is a spectacular crystal displaying long, thick, jet black schorl tourmaline needles piercing through a matrix of gemmy, semi-translucent snowy white quartz. It is a mammoth piece weighing in over a kilogram and stretching to ninety millimeters in diameter, a true show piece and a real eye-catcher on display. Tourmalated quartz spheres are relatively uncommon, particularly at this size, and so this large gem is a rare collectible worth treasuring. This sphere will be accompanied by a carved rosewood stand as shown.

Quartz is the most common mineral found on the surface of the Earth, occurring in virtually every locality. Pure crystals are colourless, transparent and hard, though many are coloured by natural processes such as irradiation or by the presence of certain elements within them. These coloured varieties include the popular gemstones amethyst, purple quartz, and citrine, yellow quartz. Some quartz crystals have unique inclusions of minerals that have grown within them, such as golden rutile, tourmaline or chlorite, and others may show silvery reflective internal veils and bright rainbows. Whilst the majority of quartz is created from molten magma that has cooled and crystallized, much quartz also chemically precipitates from hot hydrothermal veins. Well-formed crystals deep within the Earth can reach colossal sizes, with some measuring several meters in length and weighing hundreds of kilograms. The largest documented single crystal of quartz was found near Itapore, Brazil, measuring 6.1 metres at its widest point and weighing in over 44,000 kilograms!