Dendritic quartz is another branch of the quartz inclusion family tree.
This beautiful variety of quartz contains fern-like inclusions of iron, manganese, hematite and other metallic oxides that grow in a fractal pattern. The word “Dendrite” comes from the Greek word “Dendron” meaning tree. The quartz is typically clear in colour with black, brown and yellow to red tree like inclusions, displaying a little scene of nature.
How is dendritic quartz formed?
As the quartz crystals grows over very long periods of geological time, tiny fissures form along a horizontal plane within the crystal. Colourful minerals, such as black or brown, manganese and hematite from the neighbouring host rock enter into the crystal via these tiny fissures. These minerals spread out in a pattern very similar to the patterns you get on a window screen during a hard winter frost (Note to self: check your car on Monday morning!)
The end result, over hundreds and thousands of years is a beautiful quartz crystal with miniature mineral landscape locked inside.
Crystal healers use dendritic quartz to connect to nature’s spirits that govern the plant kingdom. It is said to energise gardens and crops and to help the individual “talk to the plants”. Sounds like it will make a fab Christmas present for your green fingered friend 😊
We’ve taken some microscope pictures of the plant like scenes in the dentritic quartz stones that we have in our stock at Holts Lapidary!
