Victorian Goldfields Quartz Specimen – White & Pink Crystal Cluster in Conch-Like Formation: Specimen 11

Notable Features

This 530 g quartz specimen measures 4 × 4 × 3 in (Width × Length × Height). It features clusters of small to medium quartz crystals in white and pink, set within a unique shell- or conch-like formation. At the center of the piece, where the rock curls over to expose a cavity-like opening, a single isolated larger quartz crystal has grown, making this a particularly eye-catching specimen.

Sulfidation Level

Low Sulfidation – Only minimal sulfide mineralization is visible. The specimen’s appeal lies in its distinctive conch-shaped formation and the cavity hosting both clusters of quartz and one standout crystal.

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

Mineral Assemblage

• Quartz – clusters of small to medium white and pink crystals; one larger crystal isolated in cavity

• Iron oxides – staining responsible for the pink coloration in quartz

• Trace potential: pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, stibnite, tetrahedrite, 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 upheavals fractured submarine fan sediments in the Victorian Goldfields. Silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filled these fractures, cooling slowly to allow quartz to crystallize.

In this case, quartz developed as clusters of small to medium white and pink crystals. The rock’s unusual shell-like curvature created a cavity-like opening, where a single large quartz crystal grew in isolation, contrasting with the surrounding clusters. This geological interplay of structure and crystal growth makes the specimen as much a natural sculpture as a mineral sample.

The district was historically mined for gold, silver, and antimony, with most of the gold and silver being refractory, locked within sulfides, though rare free gold specimens have been found.

This specimen is not sold as “gold ore.” It is a collector’s piece, valued for its unusual conch-like form, pink and white crystal clusters, and cavity-centered crystal growth — a distinctive representation of the Victorian Goldfields.