Tessin Quartz from Switzerland TF1249

Tessin Quartz from Switzerland
Approx. Dimensions: 2x1.5x1 inches
Approx. Weight: 34.4 grams
Locality: Camperio, Santa Maria Valley, Blenio, Tessin, Switzerland

This pair of crystals show a typical Tessin habit of growth along with some hydrothermal etching on their sides. The specimen has great luster and is in excellent condition. This piece ships in an acrylic display box.

Alpine-type quartz from the Alps of Switzerland and France refers to quartz crystals that formed in open fissures, or clefts, within metamorphic rocks during mountain-building events. As the Alps uplifted and fractured, silica-rich fluids circulated through these cracks, allowing quartz to grow slowly in open space. This environment produced sharply terminated, well-proportioned crystals with high clarity, often showing classic habits such as scepters, gwindels, and pristine single points.

Collectors value Alpine quartz for its exceptional crystal quality, natural elegance, and strong sense of place. Many specimens are carefully extracted by hand from high-elevation localities, a tradition that dates back centuries in the European Alps. The combination of aesthetic purity, well-documented localities, and the cultural history of alpine crystal hunting makes Swiss and French Alpine quartz a benchmark for quartz specimens worldwide.