The giant of the OFIOLITI QUARZO BETA black Crystals - Height: 129 mm - Width: 91 mm- 1360 g - (1)

The colossus of Castelluccio – black beta quartz from Castelluccio di Moscheda.

This extraordinary specimen, originating from the mineral deposits of the Modenese Apennines near Castelluccio di Moscheda, represents one of the most impressive and spectacular samples of the 'black beta quartz' category. The piece weighs 1.368 kg and measures 129 × 91 × 115 mm, dimensions that place it among museum-category specimens in terms of importance, rarity, and visual impact.

The specimen displays a robust prismatic development with readable rhombohedral terminations and naturally lustrous surfaces. Some portions of the crystals are partially veiled by a thin crystallization of an as-yet unidentified accessory mineral, which selectively covers the faces, creating an interesting alternation of fully exposed facets and opacified zones. The overall presentation offers a material contrast of great elegance, highlighting the specimen's volumetry.

From a mineralogical perspective, the black coloration is attributable to the widespread presence of tiny inclusions of magnetite within the quartz, responsible for the deep and uniform tone that characterizes the famous 'beta' quartz of the Apennines. The genetic context is that of low to medium temperature hydrothermal cavities within ophiolitic rocks, where the slow circulation of siliceous fluids in open fractures has favored the growth of massive, well-developed crystalline individuals.

This specimen is not just a piece of collection, but a true natural work, worthy of a museum display. The exceptional combination of mass, morphology, and chromatic depth, combined with the particular accessory glaze that modulates its surface, makes the specimen a reference for the ophiolitic quartz of the northern Apennines.

Kire Minerals is proud to present 'The Colossus of Castelluccio,' selected and studied by Erik Lombini with his usual passion and expertise. Every detail of this piece tells the story of the strength and beauty of the mineral nature of the Modenese Apennines.

Kire Minerals – your collection, with passion.