Double-ended quartz crystal. So-called 'phantom structures' in the left part of the crystal show successive stages of growth. As the crystal grew, cla

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Double-ended quartz crystal. So-called 'phantom structures' in the left part of the crystal show successive stages of growth. As the crystal grew, clay minerals were deposited on the surface of the quartz crystal, but later became embedded as the growth continued. This specimen, about 3 centimetres across, is from the Lugnez valley, Grisons, Switzerland.

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Size: 5103px × 3437px
Photo credit: © DR JUERG ALEAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, background, black, clay, close-, crystal, crystalline, crystals, detail, dioxide, double, double-ended, earth, ended, geological, geology, grisons, mineral, mineralogy, minerals, phantom, quartz, sciences, silica, silicon, specimen, structure, structures, swiss, switzerland