Quartz

specimen number:
2133169

location:
Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

description:
A loose glassy gemmy faden quartz crystal grouping without matrix. No points of attachment and in great condition all around. The faden is very obvious.

Faden quartz is a distinctive variety of quartz characterized by a thin, thread like line or seam running through the center of the crystal, often appearing as a white or cloudy line that follows the length of the crystal. The term "faden" comes from the German word for thread, referring to this internal feature. Faden quartz forms in alpine type fissures where cracks in rock slowly open over time due to tectonic movement. As the fracture widens, quartz begins to crystallize on both sides of the opening, while a thin initial layer of quartz forms along the original fracture surface. Continued movement causes the crystal to break and heal repeatedly, with new quartz growth maintaining connection across the opening, preserving the central thread. This process results in flattened or slightly curved crystals that record the history of movement and healing within the host rock.

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