Diamond
Hill Quartz Prospect
Antreville, South Carolina
Skeletal Quartz Specimens
(All specimens collected by Richard Jacquot unless otherwise noted)
Diamond Hill is probably most famous for its fine crystals of "Skeletal Quartz". Skeletal quartz crystal faces get their unusual patterns when the crystal is growing. The crystal goes through numerous growth stages, it will grow for a period of time, then stop. When the crystal starts to grow again it forms a stepped pattern on the crystal face, this process continues until the crystal reaches termination resulting in the "skeletal" appearance.
The skeletal pit at Diamond Hill has produced some of the finest specimens of this type of crystal in the world. Many of the specimens are coated with various colors of iron stain giving the specimens beautiful color. Many collectors choose to leave these coatings on the crystals to show their natural color, others will remove the coating with acid solutions or "iron out". This usually leaves the crystals an opaque bone white color. On occasion you may find a skeletal crystal with phantom overgrowth.
Cluster of skeletal quartz crystals
"The King"
Collected in 2005
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures : 23 x 15 x 14 cm
Richard Jacquot photo and collection |
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Monster cluster of skeletal quartz crystals
Collected in 2005
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures : 3' x 2.5' x over 14" thick
Richard Jacquot photo and collection
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60 pound cluster of skeletal quartz crystals, before and after cleaning.
Collected in 2005
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures : 21" x 16" x 4.5"
Richard Jacquot photo and collection |
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Cluster of skeletal quartz crystals
"The Mountain"
Collected in 2005 by Lee Fleming
(Skeletal Pit)
Lee Fleming photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystals with iron and manganese coating
Collected in 2005 by Lee Fleming
(Amethyst Pit #1)
Lee Fleming photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystal with iron coating removed
Collected in 2005 by Lee Fleming
(Skeletal Pit)
Lee Fleming photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystal cluster with iron and manganese coating
Collected in 2007
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures: 19 x 11 x 10.5 cm
Richard Jacquot photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystal cluster with iron coating
Collected in 2007
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures: 17 x 11 x 8.5 cm
Richard Jacquot photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystal rose
Collected in 2006
(Skeletal Pit)
Measures: 19 x 15 x 7.5 cm
Richard Jacquot photo and collection |
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Skeletal quartz crystal cluster with heavy iron and manganese coating
Collected in 2008
(Skeletal Pit)
Lee Fleming photo and collection |
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