Quartz bush - La Gardette, France | Ref. 337

Specimen overview

This quartz specimen from the La Gardette Mine forms a tall cluster of numerous intergrown prismatic crystals, arranged in a structure resembling a mineral bush. Several elongated points rise through the centre of the specimen, surrounded by finer crystals extending in different directions.

The crystals vary from transparent to slightly milky in some areas. Their smooth, lustrous faces, numerous terminations and overlapping points create a dense three-dimensional structure. A large crystal projects from the upper side of the specimen, while the back reveals an area of brownish matrix surrounded by more compact crystallisation.

This specimen was collected in the 1990s and comes from an old collection.

Dimensions and presentation

The specimen measures 75 mm in length, 53 mm in width and 105 mm in height. It weighs 550 g with the base.

It is displayed vertically on an acrylic base, highlighting its bush-like structure and the development of its numerous quartz points.

History of the La Gardette Mine

Located near Villard-Notre-Dame in the Oisans region of the French Alps, the La Gardette Mine is one of France’s best-known mineral localities for quartz. Traces of gold were reported there as early as the beginning of the 18th century, while crystal miners also became interested in the site at an early stage: a gallery was excavated in 1765 in search of crystals. Attempts to mine the gold remained limited, whereas the quartz crystals established the mine’s lasting reputation.

The La Gardette Mine is particularly renowned for the quality, transparency and variety of forms displayed by its quartz crystals. The locality also gave its name to the famous La Gardette twin, a distinctive twinning habit involving two regularly intergrown quartz crystals and highly regarded by mineralogists. Specimens from the mine have entered many collections and have contributed greatly to the mineralogical reputation of the Oisans region.

Fractures within the rock allowed mineral-bearing fluids to circulate and form cavities in which quartz crystals could develop. They may also be associated with calcite, siderite and various sulphide minerals.

Although no longer worked, the La Gardette Mine remains an important part of the mining and mineralogical heritage of the Oisans region. It is still particularly well known among mineral enthusiasts for its quartz crystals and for the history of the crystal miners who worked in the area.