Victorian Goldfields Quartz Breccia Specimen – Baby Quartz Crystals with Sulfide-Rich Host Rock: Specimen 9

Notable Features

This quartz breccia specimen measures approximately 9 × 5 × 3.5 in (Width × Length × Height) and is densely packed with tiny “baby” quartz crystals that dominate its surface. The rock is composed of clasts of the original host rock in varying sizes, cemented together by quartz during hydrothermal activity. The quartz crystals are mainly white, with occasional pink hues, and some crystal bases are stained black. One exposed face of the host rock is laden with sulfides, making this a highly textural and mineral-rich specimen. Weight to be confirmed.

Sulfidation Level

Moderate Sulfidation – The specimen contains sulfides concentrated along an exposed host rock face, with pyrite and chalcopyrite visible in clusters. Sulfide inclusions add metallic sparkle to the baby quartz crystals and contrast against the lighter quartz colors.

See how we rate sulfidation levels by visiting our FAQ section.

Mineral Assemblage

• Quartz – dominated by small “baby” white crystals, with some pink quartz and black-stained bases

• Pyrite – brassy metallic clusters on the exposed host face

• Chalcopyrite – golden-brassy inclusions associated with quartz and host fragments

• Tetrahedrite – likely contributing to black staining in crystal bases

• Iron oxides – subtle pink/red staining in some quartz crystals

• Trace potential: arsenopyrite, stibnite, gold, silver, antimony

Note: Not every specimen contains the full mineral assemblage above. Minerals may appear in varying amounts, and each specimen may only feature a subset. Each piece is unique and chosen for its visual appeal and geological character.

Geological Story

This specimen formed during the Silurian Period (~440–420 million years ago), when tectonic activity fractured submarine fan sediments in the Victorian Goldfields. Hydrothermal fluids rich in silica and metals infiltrated these fractures, shattering the host rock and filling the gaps with quartz and sulfides.

The result is a true breccia structure, where clasts of the host rock are cemented together by quartz. The specimen is blanketed with tiny white and pink quartz crystals, while black staining in crystal bases points to tetrahedrite and oxide inclusions. On one exposed face, sulfides are concentrated, marking the intensity of mineralizing fluids that also historically produced gold, silver, and antimony in the region.

Most of the gold and silver here is refractory, locked within sulfides, though rare specimens with visible free gold are known.

This specimen is not sold as “gold ore.” It is a collector’s piece, valued for its dense quartz crystal coverage, brecciated texture, and sulfide-rich host rock face — a highly detailed fragment of the Victorian Goldfields.