Minerals: Smoky Quartz
Locality: Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA
Dimensions: 60mm x 12mm x 12mm
Weight: 9.1g

Lincoln County has produced some of New Mexico’s most recognisable smoky quartz, including crystals from the Capitan Mountains and nearby localities that are known for elegant habits, excellent clarity and distinctive internal growth. Material from the area is sought after, particularly where the crystal form and internal structure are clean.

Small yet mighty, this slim crystal is ridiculously clear and lustrous, with a very soft smoky colour that allows the internal structure to remain beautifully visible. Delicate phantoms appear through the crystal in stacked layers, although they need to be caught at the right angle before they fully reveal themselves.

The proportions are lovely, with a long narrow body and sharply defined termination, while subtle surface striations add just enough texture without interrupting the clarity. In person the lustre is much stronger than the photographs suggest, with the crystal catching the light beautifully.

There is a reason this material is so sought after among smoky quartz collectors. The combination of clarity, soft colour and those elusive internal phantoms gives this little crystal far more presence than its size would suggest.