Identify this crystal please

[Joan Marie]

It has me stumped. It's close to several things but not exactly. I can't find it in any of my books and no luck online. Any ideas?

[Pen]

It looks like a group of cloudy quartz crystals - they're not always clear.

[Joan Marie]

It looks like a group of cloudy quartz crystals - they're not always clear.

hmm--maybe.
You are right, there are so many types of quartz.

There is one called "Fairy Wand Quartz" which often carries multiple hexagonal terminated crystals in a cluster like this. They are milky but not orange like this one. This one has a distinct orange-y color at the bottom that become more yellow toward the terminus.

There is another quartz called "Cathedral Quartz" which also has this upward thrusting cluster formation, but is normally less twisty. It is also normally milky or brownish and not so orange.

This crystal has such a distinct formation and distinct coloration that I thought it had to have a more distinct identity.

[Pen]

The orange colour seems to rise from the base of the cluster - possibly caused by iron in the strata the crystals grew from. It's hard to tell from a photo though - if you have a jeweller's lens or magnifying glass try taking a closer look.

I have a tame expert though - away at the moment but back on Friday. I'll let you know what he thinks.

[Pen]

He says it's hard to tell just from the photo, but if the crystals have 6 sides it could be corundum, which can occur in a 'distorted' formation like this and that the orange colour is from the host rock.