Microcline with Quartz

specimen number:
2072283

location:
Teller Co., Colorado, USA

description:
Blocky colorless crystals of microcline measuring to 4.5 cm in size across the top of matrix with crystals of smoky quartz. In good condition.

The Pikes Peak Batholith, centered in Teller County, Colorado, is a world-famous geological formation composed primarily of billion-year-old granitic rock. Geologically, the area is characterized by miarolitic cavities, or crystal-lined pockets, that formed as volatile gases trapped in the cooling magma created spaces for mineral growth. Historically, mining and quarrying in the region began in the late 1800s, with the Pikes Peak area becoming a focal point for mineral collectors and commercial specimen miners by the 1870s. Industrial interest in the county was dominated by the Cripple Creek gold rush starting in 1891, but systematic quarrying for amazonite has remained a consistent activity for over 150 years. Notable operations, such as those at Crystal Peak and the Smoky Jack claim, have seen continuous or intermittent activity from the late 19th century through 2026. Today, Teller County remains the premier global locality for these iconic amazonite and smoky quartz clusters, maintaining its status as a vital site for both professional mineralogists and amateur field collectors.

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