Quartz

specimen number:
2242044

location:
Hot Springs area, Arkansas, USA

description:
An attractive large cluster of glassy gem quality quartz crystals, the largest measuring to 10.0 cm in size. Slight damage present, overall I believe this to be in really good condition when one takes into account the overall size of the piece and number of crystals present. Really fine for this American classic.

The Hot Springs area of Arkansas, particularly within the Ouachita Mountains of Garland and Montgomery Counties, is recognized globally as the source of some of the finest rock crystal quartz in existence. Geologically, these deposits formed during the late Paleozoic era when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids were injected into fractures within the folded and faulted sandstone and shale of the Ouachita Orogeny. This unique environment allowed for the growth of exceptionally clear, colorless quartz crystals in large open cavities or "pockets" within the Jackfork Sandstone and Crystal Mountain Sandstone formations. Historically, mining and quarrying for quartz in this region began with indigenous peoples who utilized the hard stone for tools and weapons, followed by early settlers who collected crystals as souvenirs in the mid-1800s. Large-scale commercial mining for industrial and aesthetic purposes expanded significantly in the early 1900s and surged during World War II when high-quality quartz was needed for radio oscillators. Today, the area remains a vibrant center for both commercial specimen mining and public "dig-for-fee" operations through 2026, with the region continuing to supply the global market with the iconic, water-clear prismatic crystals for which Arkansas is famous.

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