#quartz rock

[charmed-n-zesty]

Different paths, similar undergrowth.

[pipermintz]

I feel like if humans swallowed rocks like birds do to help grind up food we'd have so much fun with it.

Can just imagine all the girlies on tiktok going "I know this is a bit controversial but I honestly love using limestone as a gastrolith. Not only can you readily forage it but they are just so pretty when smoothed out after regurgitating them"

and then all the comments would be like " girl 😭 😭 calcite dissolves in stomach acid!! Just use quartz if you want a pretty gastrolith like 💀"

[sorikal]

[heartnosekid]

black amethyst heart | source

[lionfloss]

polished spheres

[amnhnyc]

We hope you’re having a gem of a weekend! Today’s Exhibit of the Day is a dazzling elbaite (variety: rubellite with quartz). In the late 1800s, gem-bearing pegmatites like this example were discovered in Southern California. What are pegmatites? They’re a special kind of rock formed by magma, characterized by large, occasionally enormous, interlocking crystals—sometimes of unusual minerals containing rare elements.

Large crystals typically mean that magma cooled slowly, allowing the crystals to grow for a long time. But pegmatites are rule-breakers—and are one of the most consistently puzzling aspects of geology. Special circumstances, particularly enrichment in H2O, allow them to solidify rapidly, sometimes in just a few days. Spot this beauty at the Museum’s Halls of Gems and Minerals!

Photo: © AMNH

[reddpenn]

What is your favorite cool rock to say?

My favorite mineral name is dididumortierite! You pronounce it like dee-dee-doo-MOY-tee-yur-ite. It is the mineral that gives rose quartz its pink color!

You can't see it with the naked eye, but this rose quartz is actually packed with millions of microscopic pink fibers! Those fibers are dididumortierite. If the fibers happen to align in roughly the same direction, you can get a star or cat's eye effect!

[mfshipbracket]

[echosong971]

eat quartz like rock candy

[letmeinimafairy]

New cave paintings necklaces. Small jasper and quartz river pebbles I found on a river bank. Now thinking about trying different imagery for similar pieces.

Both available

[retrogamingblog2]

Gem Carved Pokemon made by GeorgefBoutique

[emeraldcityminerals]

Pink rhodochrosite (MnCO3) surrounded by milky quartz (SiO2). From American Tunnel Mine aka Sunnyside, Howardsville, Silverton, Colorado. Size: 2.5 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm

[srlgemstone]

An interesting formation. Quartz Agate

[sorikal]

Partially tumbled quartz!

[heartnosekid]

rose quartz strawberries 🍓 | source

[lionfloss]

Agates