Fieldtrip Report:
Diamond Hill Mine
Antreville, S.C.
November 3-5th, 2006photos by: Lee Fleming, Steve Bonney, Mark Gaskins, Cathy Stamey, Rick Jacquot, Steve Barr
Some more specimen pics:
Fieldtrip Report:
Diamond Hill Mine
Antreville, S.C.
November 3-5th, 2006photos by: Lee Fleming, Steve Bonney, Mark Gaskins, Cathy Stamey, Rick Jacquot, Steve Barr
Some more specimen pics:
Above two pics are of the same amethyst crystal in two different lights, super dark purple, the crystal measures 3" tall x 2.75" wide with no damage at all.
4" x 3"
4.5" x 2.5"
The above two specimens are what I call pseudomorph quartz after calcite, these crystals are hollow and very fragile, I have been told there is another term for these crystals as they are not a complete replacement of the original calcite crystal?, but a quartz shell taking the form of the once present calcite. The definition I found for a pseudomorph is: "The existense of a mineral with the crystal form of another species. Pseudomorphism may occur by substitution, encrustation, or alteration". It seems that these would fall into that catagory. If someone knows a more technical term please let me know.
White/yellow crystal cluster with iron coating, the big crystal is wearing a skirt.
Skeletal white crystal cluster with pale amethyst core. The cluster measures 5" wide x 4.5" tall, the small amethyst crystals have phantoms in them.
Closeup of amethyst with phantom.
Above three pics: 3" x 1.5" quartz after calcite pseudomorph crystal on matrix.
