Orthoclase

specimen number:
2354204

location:
Val Cristallina, Grisons, Switzerland

description:
A loose cluster of blocky mostly lustrous and opaque, though slightly translucent crystals of orthoclase. In good condition all around. There are no points of attachment. Classic Alpine material. Some refer to this material as adularia.

Located in the Swiss Alps of the Grisons canton, Val Cristallina is a legendary high-alpine region renowned for its complex cleft-type hydrothermal mineral deposits formed during intense regional metamorphism and tectonic uplift. Alpine clefts in the local gneiss and schist formations grew over millions of years as circulating hydrothermal fluids deposited dissolved minerals into open fissures. The area has a rich history of artisanal mineral collecting and prospecting dating back centuries, famously targeted by historical and modern miners braving harsh weather to extract world-class specimen quartz and associated rare accessory minerals. Collectors prize the valley for its pristine, perfectly formed crystal clusters that serve as classic examples of alpine cleft mineralization.

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