Minerals: Quartz, Hematite
Locality: Erongo Mountains, Erongo Region, Namibia
Dimensions:108mm x 40mm x 42mm
Weight: 157g
Provenance: ex. Mala Haslem Collection

This is the crystal that began my obsession with this particular Erongo pocket. Acquired in 2021, it has remained the strongest example I was able to source, with an exceptionally sharp hematite phantom suspended through the centre of the crystal and a much clearer smoky termination above.

The phantom is unusually dense and well defined, with a crisp upper boundary that creates a dramatic contrast against the more transparent quartz surrounding it. Above this, the termination remains sharply formed and deeply smoky, while directional light reveals warm internal flashes through the clearer upper section.

A smaller parallel crystal rises from the base and closely echoes the growth of the main crystal, with a similarly defined smoky body and termination. Fine black tourmaline is gathered around this secondary point, giving the base a classic Erongo association and adding further complexity to an otherwise very clean composition.

Over the years I acquired and released a number of specimens from this same pocket, but this is the final one I retained. The combination of the sharply defined phantom, strong termination, mirrored secondary crystal and tourmaline association made it the standout example from the beginning.