Ferberite with Quartz

There is no doubting this large cabinet specimen may adopt the tiles of either Beauty or Beast, depending on which side it is viewed! Let’s begin on a good footing with the beautiful side. A magnificent and impressive group of sub-vertical, slightly smoky Quartz crystals forms an architectural display of intergrown composite blades of silky black Ferberite crystals. The largest Quartz crystal measures 16.5 cm from the base, with an equally impressive 12 cm tall crystal in the centre. The Ferberite, an iron tungstate, forms striated tabular crystals; the one on the display face standing vertical in sub-alignment with the Quartz. The beasty side is completed masked by a preferential coating of micro-crystals of caramel-chocolate brown Siderite. Its make a wonderful display specimen!  This specimen comes with a Don Edwards label from the Tideswell Dale Rock Shop in Derbyshire, England.