Minerals:  Morion Quartz
Locality: Xuan Le, Thường Xuân District, Thanh Hóa Province, Vietnam
Dimensions: 100mm x 35mm x 36mm (approx)
Weight: 162.2g
Provenance: ex. Mala Haslem Collection

This exceptionally dark Morion quartz is from the Thanh Hóa Province, and features a dense near black colour, strong lustre and a beautifully detailed natural surface.

The crystal has a compact tapered form, with early cathedral like structures beginning to develop along the column faces. The surface is particularly interesting, combining a glossy patina with fine laminations and subtle swirling growth patterns that are artful and organic.

The termination is sharply formed, with a particularly appealing five sided window, sometimes called an isis face. Around the base, pale feldspar penetrates into the quartz and creates a strong contrast against the much darker body of the crystal.

Despite its almost opaque appearance, the specimen remains highly reflective across the exposed faces, and the combination of deep Morion colour, intricate surface texture, developing cathedral growth and the unusual termination geometry gives this piece a very distinct character.

Vietnamese quartz has emerged onto the international market relatively recently, but material from Thanh Hóa has quickly earned a strong reputation for exceptionally dark Morion and smoky quartz crystals with distinctive natural growth and surface texture.