Taquaral, Minas Gerais, Brazil

This is a rich rosy-pink colored "fan-spray" of crystals that is really impactful, due to both the color and lustre - uncommonly good and even for a piece this size. It also is composed of unusually fat, robust crystals which sparkle nicely from their broad faces. Some of the crystals reach 1.5 inches in size, and the whole plate is composed of such robust pink crystals grown into one another, end to end. It is nearly a floater, with just a few small contacts on the sides, and actually complete and smooth in back where it must have grown against a large crystal of another mineral. Although not the gemmiest rose quartz, this piece has an overall style quite different from the norm. Also, whereas most rose quartz specimens tend to have small bits of rose quartz on other minerals, this is a solid plate with a LOT of impact and richness of the rose quartz itself. From the collection of Hubert De Monmonier (1919-2007), donated by bequest to the University of Arizona Museum to add to their displays; and to provide specimens for the recent sale to establish an endowment fund for museum operations in perpetuity. Joe Budd photos