Victorian Goldfields Quartz Specimen – Large White Crystal with Pink Underside Cluster: Specimen 4

Notable Features

This 413 g quartz specimen measures 3.5 × 3 × 2 in (Width × Length × Height). It features a single massive quartz crystal dominating the specimen, accompanied by a striking white quartz vein cutting through the host rock. The piece also displays minor brecciation and a tiny cluster of pink quartz crystals on the underside, adding an extra point of visual interest.

Sulfidation Level

Low Sulfidation – Only trace sulfides are visible in this specimen. Its appeal lies in the massive quartz crystal growth, the vein cutting through bedrock, and the contrasting pink crystal cluster beneath.

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

Mineral Assemblage

• Quartz – one large white crystal with a vein through bedrock, small pink quartz cluster underside

• Iron oxides – staining responsible for the pink coloration

• 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 forces fractured submarine fan sediments in the Victorian Goldfields. Silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filled these fractures and cooled slowly, producing crystalline quartz instead of the massive, milky quartz common in other reefs.

Here, a single large white quartz crystal dominates the specimen, reflecting steady growth during cooling. The quartz vein cutting through host rock highlights how these fractures acted as pathways for hydrothermal fluids. On the underside, a tiny pink quartz cluster formed, stained by iron oxides and preserved alongside minor brecciation — a geological record of multiple phases of mineralization.

The region was historically mined for gold, silver, and antimony, with most of the gold and silver 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 specimen, valued for its massive crystal, vein structure, and pink crystal cluster — a small yet striking fragment of the Victorian Goldfields.