Smoky and Morion Quartz - Specimen

Locality: Baia Mare mining district, Maramureș County, Romania

Smoky quartz gets its colour from aluminium. In all smoky quartz a little aluminium takes the place of silicon, but the colour only appears once the crystal has been irradiated. Natural radiation over geological time removes an electron from an oxygen atom next to an aluminium ion, creating a colour centre that absorbs light and gives the typical smoky brown. With enough aluminium and intense radiation the quartz turns completely black, the variety called morion, and heating removes the colour.

The Baia Mare district lies in the Gutâi Mountains of northern Romania, part of the volcanic arc on the inner side of the Carpathians. Volcanic activity built these mountains between about 15.4 and 7 million years ago, and the hydrothermal fluids linked to it left hundreds of gold-silver and lead-zinc veins. The Main Vein of the Baia Sprie mine, 8 km long, is the longest ore vein in Europe.

Mining around Baia Mare is documented with certainty from the 13th and 14th centuries, and the late 15th century brought a first boom in gold and silver mining. More than 20 mines were still working the district's veins until 2007, and two of its deposits, Cavnic and Baia Sprie, are classed as world-class.

This one of a kind Smoky and Morion Quartz specimen from Romania features a dense cluster of dark smoky-brown to nearly black quartz crystals with a strong, sculptural formation. The specimen is covered in naturally terminated quartz points, ranging from smaller clustered crystals to larger prominent points rising across the surface. The deep colour, glossy terminations, and subtle translucent edges give the piece a dramatic display presence, while small pale matrix areas add contrast between the dark quartz growth and the host rock.

Smoky Quartz is a naturally dark variety of quartz, coloured by natural radiation and trace elements within the crystal structure. Morion is the darkest form of Smoky Quartz, often appearing deep brown, grey-black, or nearly opaque black. Romania has a long and important mining history, especially in the Maramures region, where classic European mineral specimens have been collected from hydrothermal vein deposits. This type of dark quartz specimen is most likely from a Romanian hydrothermal environment where quartz crystals formed in open cavities alongside sulfide and other vein minerals.

In crystal traditions, smoky quartz and morion are associated with grounding, protection and the root chakra.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.