FMF Minerals Gallery

Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France specimen 33mm tall Same specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Bla

Quartz Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland, UK 43mm tall x 35mm x 25mm Quartz crystal with partially included Amazonite (microcline) crystal pieces to 15mm. There is a second generation of quartz 1-2mm thickness partially covering the specimen, more lustrous and transparent than the main crystal. From same locality as the amazonite specimen in previous picture. The microcline feldspar is greener than the photo shows. (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scot

Quartz Loch Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 12mm crystals Interesting growths of quartz crystals with intriguing terminations. Found in-situ on the wave-cut platform. From a locality on the north shore of Loch Brittle, named Geodha na h-Airigh Moire. Self-collected 2003 (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Loch Brittle, Isle of Skye,

Quartz Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 5cm x 4cm Quartz ’stalactite’ 37mm long, with a 3mm heulandite crystal and a tiny stilbite crystal attached. Self-collected 1994 (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye

Quartz Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 11cm x 4cm x 2cm Pale blue lining of tiny quartz crystals 2-3mm thickness on basalt. Sometimes this material has blocky (pinacoidal) apophyllite crystals sprinkled on the surface. Self-collected 2002 (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye

Quartz Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK FOV 5cm x 4cm approx. Close-up of the large quartz specimen showing detail of the crystals. (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen

Quartz Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 14cm x 9cm x 6cm Large specimen of nice quartz crystals to 12mm or so. There are smaller examples to be seen but this is one of the biggest. I remember spotting this on my first visit in 1997, but didn’t bother with it at the time...Must have been too busy exploring and then forgot about it. Anyway, it was still there 14 years later ! Self-collected 2011 (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen

Quartz Shelter Stone Crag, Caingorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK FOV approx 8cm A selection of the odd-shaped smaller quartz crystals found at the same spot, none of them smoky. The longest crystal is 39mm. The thin flat one is 34mm x 19mm and 3-4mm thick. (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Shelter Stone Crag, Caingor

Quartz Shelter Stone Crag, Caingorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 70mm x 35mm x 30mm A fairly large but rough looking quartz crystal. It is somewhat translucent and not smoky, and appears to have an overgrowth or second generation of quartz. Found this and several small crystals near the top of Shelter Stone Crag, by carefully climbing down a ’bottomless’ gully a short distance (not the gully in the previous photo). Couldn’t do much poking about as I was acutely aware of the sickening drop below me, and the possibility of climbers somewhere below. (Author: Mike Wood)

Quartz Shelter Stone Crag, Caingor

Scrambling up the steep gully which leads to the ’crystal cave’. (Author: Mike Wood)

Scrambling up the steep gully whic

Setting off with 40lb (17kg) rucksack for a few days in the mountains - in this case it is Ben a’ Bhuird - the mountain in the distance. It took me 4 hours to reach the Dubh Lochan. Must be getting old; I’m sure I used to do it in a little over 3 hours. (Author: Mike Wood)

Setting off with 40lb (17kg) rucks

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland View looking North from the beach at Sgurr nam Boc. The cliff is over 600 feet high ! (~200m). Nice day for it !! (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotl

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland Photo taken November 1996, (scanned) when the days are short and the weather can be nasty. (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotl

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK The front of the cavity is split away and rests on the ground. Big specimen ! Scanned photo (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotl

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK Breaking into a large stilbite cavity with lumphammer and chisels. Scanned photo (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotl

Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK Sgurr nam Fiadh from the south (looking north). The highest point of the cliff is nearly 900 feet high (260m). April 2012. (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Sco

Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland Photo of the locality looking east toward the Cuillin. 2011. (Author: Mike Wood)

Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittl

Six weeks later and the scene is much less snowy. A one day lightweight trip to Ben Macdui. Suncream and sunhat essential. Extremely pleasant walking though, and miles can be covered at a fast pace. (Author: Mike Wood)

Six weeks later and the scene is m

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 127mm x 61mm x 53mm Same specimen as above. I only found one this size, plus a few that are 6 - 8cm, and a few smaller interesting ’floaters’ that are odd shapes. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 127mm x 61mm x 53mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 127mm x 61mm x 53mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 127mm x 61mm x 53mm Same specimen showing the face that had been bashed (presumably with spike end of an ice-axe?) by previous visitor(s) to the cave. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 127mm x 61mm x 53mm Large smoky quartz crystal recovered from the back of a cleft in an old crystal cave, on the south face. Though a little bashed on one face, the crystal is rather intact, with good lustre on four side faces (chlorite on the other two faces), and good lustre on the six pyramidal faces. The crystal is a very deep brown colour with good transparency, though with lots of internal flaws. Collected 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 47mm x 15mm x 13mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 47mm x 15mm x 13mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 47mm x 15mm x 13mm Another strange shaped smoky quartz crystal. In the middle there are some small quartz crystals and a bit of ’feldspar’ matrix. Most of the main crystal is only 1-2mm thick. Found in the ’crystal cave’, 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 38mm x 15mm x 9mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 38mm x 15mm x 9mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France 38mm x 15mm x 9mm Double-terminated smoky quartz crystal from the ’crystal cave’, found 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France specimen 33mm tall Smoky quartz crystal is 22mm tall x 15mm x 10mm, on a feldspar/granite matrix. Found in a narrow cleft in the end of an old crystal cave, in 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Aiguille du Moine, Mo

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 55mm x 35mm 25mm Small group of crystals with a little muscovite mica, from the same locality as the previous specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird,

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 55mm x 24mm x 20mm crystal Close-up of the above specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird,

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 55mm x 24mm x 20mm Nice single crystal with good termination and a little bit of microcline included. My best specimen of smoky quartz from the Cairngorms. Doesn’t really compare with the ones from Arran. Collected from an in-situ pegmatite pocket 10m up a steep cliff-face. I traversed from the side to get to it, and plucked it from it’s resting place. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Ben a’ Bhuird,

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 42mm x 22mm x 17mm Same specimen (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 42mm x 22mm x 17mm Gemmy, but with a few veils inside. Rare to find these with undamaged terminations. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 40mm x 17mm x 13mm Same specimen from the other side, with a bit more lighting. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 40mm x 17mm x 13mm Good termination and colour, and very clear inside. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 90mm x 45mm x 30mm The other side of the above specimen - not so good, with contacting. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 90mm x 45mm x 30mm Same specimen (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 90mm x 45mm x 30mm A big one - with quite a lot of veils (bubble-trains or lines of bubbles), as the larger crystals tend to have. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 55mm and 54mm tall Close-up of the middle two crystals (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 59mm, 55mm, 54mm, 61mm (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 59mm, 55mm, 54mm, 61mm Length of crystals, from left to right. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 76mm x 35mm x 26mm same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 76mm x 35mm x 26mm same specimen as above showing interesting termination (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 76mm x 35mm x 26mm same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 76mm x 35mm x 26mm Nice undamaged crystal, deep colour and good transparency but quite a lot of veils inside. A few tiny quartz and feldspar crystals on this side only. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 65mm x 45mm x 45mm Same specimen as above. The large, smooth crystal face is nearly 5cm long. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 65mm x 45mm x 45mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 65mm x 45mm x 45mm Two curious flattened smoky quartz crystals joined together. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 57mm x 43mm x 35mm Same specimen as above showing internal veiling. These smokies are very deep brown but still have some degree of transparency. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 57mm x 43mm x 35mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 57mm x 43mm x 35mm Another smoky from the same cavity (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 67mm x 40mm x 38mm Same specimen as above - backside (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 67mm x 40mm x 38mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 67mm x 40mm x 38mm (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 75mm x 40mm x 33mm Same specimen as above, showing lessening of depth of colour on right side, due to UV light exposure. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 75mm x 40mm x 33mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 75mm x 40mm x 33mm Nice sturdy smoky quartz crystal; the termination is a little chewed up (as found) probably from ice-action in the cavity where it originated from. The crystal had actually ’migrated’ a short distance from the cavity and was wedged in a crevice. The crystal colour has lightened on one side due to exposure to the sky - best seen in the third photo. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 11.5cm x 6cm x 5cm Same specimen as above, showing termination in more detail. As usual with the larger crystals there are a lot of bubble ’veils’ included, though there is still some transparency. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 11.5cm x 6cm x 5cm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 11.5cm x 6cm x 5cm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 11.5cm x 6cm x 5cm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 11.5cm x 6cm x 5cm The best smoky quartz crystal I have found. The termination is good ! (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz Isle of Arran, Scotla

Smoky Quartz + Albite Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK 80mm x 55mm x 65mm high (specimen) Nicely terminated smoky quartz crystal 40mm tall on pegmatite matrix. Collected 1998. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Albite Lundy Island

Smoky Quartz + Albite + Muscovite Mica Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 60mm x 40mm x 35mm crystal Close-up of the above specimen. The smoky quartz crystal is quite a nice shape, just a bit opaque though. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Albite + Muscovite

Smoky Quartz + Albite + Muscovite Mica Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 10cm x 9cm x 7cm Specimen of euhedral smoky quartz crystal 6cm tall on chunky white albite (feldspar), with a little muscovite? mica. The smoky quartz is coated with a second generation of quartz, giving it a rough and more opaque appearance. This unfortunately is typical of many smoky quartzes from the Cairngorms, though they are more gemmy inside. Found 2003 from some old diggings on the north side of this mountain. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Albite + Muscovite

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 2cm crystal Close-up of the above specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a&rs

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 40mm x 35mm x 40mm high Small specimen found in a granite boulder, still with lichen attached. The smoky quartz is quite transparent for a change. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a&rs

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland. 38mm x 27mm x 20mm Small specimen, but the quartz is transparent and well-terminated. There are also a few tiny white albite crystals in there between and on the smoky quartz. Collected 1994. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a&rs

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland. 85mm x 53mm x 30mm Specimen of small smoky quartz crystals on microcline. The larger microcline crystal in the centre is 14mm x 10mm. There is also a crystal of muscovite mica (6mm) on the right-hand side. The smoky quartz is transparent. This specimen and the next one came from a thin pegmatite vein cavity in a granite boulder. Collected 1994. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Ben a&rs

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 8cm x 7cm high x 4cm The other side (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 8cm x 7cm high x 4cm Double-terminated quartz crystal 72mm long, fairly clear near the top. The feldspar crystals are sadly damaged. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 30mm x 11mm x 16mm Same specimen as above showing internal veiling. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 30mm x 11mm x 16mm Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 30mm x 11mm x 16mm Tidy little specimen, again there are veils inside the crystal, but when you look at them closely they are extraordinarily beautiful and mysterious. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 12cm x 7cm x 6cm high Closer view of the two smoky quartz crystals on the specimen as above; the smaller one on the left is 35mm tall and slightly dinged on the termination. The larger one on the right is 57mm tall and undamaged. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 12cm x 7cm x 6cm high The other side of the specimen (best side). (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 12cm x 7cm x 6cm high Rare combination specimen. The feldspar crystals are not complete, but the two smokies are pretty good; only the smaller one has a ding on it’s termination. The larger smoky quartz crystal is 57mm tall. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 105mm x 105mm x 57mm Smoky quartz crystals to 20mm with microcline feldspar crystals. Slight damage to some crystals. Self-collected 2003. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK 13cm x 12cm x 7cm Almost undamaged matrix specimen with transparent smoky quartz crystals to 2cm. Self-collected 2003. (Author: Mike Wood)

Smoky Quartz + Microcline Isle of

Stilbite Allt Preshal Beg, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK Main crystal 62mm x 22mm Large stilbite crystal, nearly a ’bowtie’, with a second generation of smaller, simpler stilbites. From an obscure locality (and not for the faint-hearted !) about 4km south of Talisker Bay. This is actually another ’Heddle’ locality but like many of the coastal localities on Skye, I think he visited it by boat - well over 100 years ago ! Self-collected 2006 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Allt Preshal Beg, Mingini

Stilbite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 7cm x 5cm x3cm Lustrous masses of stilbite, on a very thin base of pinkish chabazite. Self-collected 1994 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye,

Stilbite Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 33mm crystal Three rather odd looking thin stilbite sheaf-like crystals, perched on a mound of ’mesolite’ and laumontite matrix. Self-collected 1996 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish,

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK Crystals to approx 5cm The inside of the cavity (still inside the boulder) showing beautifully fresh stilbite crystals, in a ’wheatsheaf’ type habit. scanned photo (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 11cm high x 5cm across x 9cm deep Large lustrous crystal group of ’wheatsheaf’ stilbites 5cm tall amongst smaller stilbite crystals on basalt matrix. This specimen is probably from the big stilbite cavity shown in an earlier group of three photo’s. Self-collected 1996 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 11cm x 7cm x 6cm deep Large ’wheatsheaf’ single stilbite crystal measuring 70mm x 25mm, with a pink central zone; surrounded by smaller stilbite crystals. Self-collected 1995 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK FOV 5cm x 4cm approx. Simple thin stilbite crystals to 10mm arranged on a thin layer of tiny pink heulandites, on basalt matrix. Self-collected 1994 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 14cm x 8cm x 6cm Pleasing arrangement of lustrous stilbite crystals draped over a mound of basalt matrix. A thin crust of white laumontite partly covers the matrix. Self-collected 2001 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 39mm crystal Close-up of the previous specimen. Main crystal is 39mm long. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 21cm x 16cm x 10cm Large specimen of bowtie stilbite crystals, quite a few are double-terminated and delicately arranged. There used to be a nice little group attached in one spot on the specimen - until I made the mistake of presenting my three-year old son with a squeaky plastic hammer while the specimen was on my desk nearby: guess what the first thing he did with his new toy! -_- Self-collected 1992 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Sk

Stilbite Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 26cm x 23cm x 12cm deep Very large stilbite specimen showing ’wheatsheaf’ habit crystals to 30mm, on basalt matrix. Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of

Stilbite Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 16cm x 11cm x 9cm Fresh stilbite crystals covering a mound of basalt matrix on both sides. Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’ ’Glen Caladale’, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 10cm across x 7cm high x 3cm deep View of the same specimen from the back. The stilbite isn’t the freshest I’ve seen but the lustre is quite good and there is very little damage. But it is certainly one of the most aesthetic specimens I have collected. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’ ’Glen Caladale’, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 10cm across x 7cm high x 3cm deep Three large stilbite crystals in a ’wheatsheaf’ habit perched on a mound of basalt matrix covered with ’mesolite’ crystals. The stilbite crystal on the right is 52mm long. This is the best specimen, found in a large pipe cavity in a very large boulder on my first visit to this little-known locality. The ’mesolite’ is rather dirty but I decided to leave it so as it shows off the stilbite nicely ! Self-collected 1996 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’ Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 13mm crystals Close-up of the previous specimen. The stilbites are quite unusual if this form, but have been found elsewhere on Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’ Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 9cm x 5cm x 3cm Unusual stilbite crystals to 13mm long on ’mesolite’ (could be natrolite). Self-collected 1999 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + ’Mesolite’

Stilbite + Analcime Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 40mm x 35mm x 25mm Unusual combination of simple stilbite crystals on analcime crystals to 10mm across. Self-collected 1994 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Analcime Moonen Bay, Is

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 9cm x 7cm x 4 cm Stilbite crystals to 10mm+, and in aggregates of tiny transparent crystals, on a bed of small pink chabazites. One of the best specimens recovered from an almost pristine large cavity - in fact they were so clean they almost didn’t need cleaning. The pink colour of the chabazite seems to be stable. I have found this combination of zeolites here before but nothing of this quality. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 57mm x 50mm x 35mm Example showing one of the larger stilbite crystals, 34mm in length (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 9cm x 7cm x 4cm Same as above, but upside down (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 9cm x 7cm x 4cm Stilbite crystals to 10mm+, and in aggregates of tiny transparent crystals, on a bed of small pink chabazites, on basalt rock. One of the best specimens recovered from an almost pristine large cavity - in fact they were so clean they almost didn’t need cleaning. The pink colour of the chabazite seems to be stable. I have found this combination of zeolites here before but nothing of this quality. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK FOV approx 5cm x 4cm Close up of the above large specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 19cm x 12cm x 8cm The other side of the specimen showing the basalt matrix and areas of pink chabazite and scattered stilbite crystal groups. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 19cm x 12cm x 8cm Large specimen, mostly covered with ’stubby’ stilbite crystals on this side. Self-collected March 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland,UK 11cm x 10cm x 6cm high Same specimen as above. There is a bit of contacting on top of the specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 11cm x 10cm x 6cm high Dome of basalt matrix completely covered with pink chabazite and white stilbite crystals. The underside is fairly flat and more densely covered with ’stubby’ stilbites. The larger stilbite crystal is 30mm long. Self-collected March 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Chabazite Moonen Bay, I

Stilbite + Heulandite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 8cm x 7cm x 8cm high Pretty combination, very rarely seen at this locality, of pink heulandite crystals with white bowtie stilbite crystals. The stilbite at the top is 4cm long. This specimen was found in the remains of a large boulder which had been ’attended to’ by a joint Scottish Museum trip (by boat) a few weeks earlier ! Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Heulandite Sgurr nam Bo

Stilbite + Laumontite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 52mm crystal Stilbite crystal 52mm x 16mm showing ’wheatsheaf’ habit, resting on a thin bed of dried-out laumontite crystals, which are now breaking apart. Self-collected 2001 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Laumontite Sgurr nam Bo

Stilbite + Mesolite + Chabazite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 12cm x 9cm x 4cm deep Colourful specimen of orange/pink chabazite in crystals to 13mm with a 5cm wide aggregate of stilbite crystals in the centre. Accompanied by a nice tuft of mesolite (tested), and a little heulandite just to the left of the stilbite, but hard to see in the photo. Self-collected 2006 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Mesolite + Chabazite Sg

Stilbite + Mordenite Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 72mm x 40mm x 35mm Half a ’bowtie’ stilbite crystal 33mm tall with mordenite ’needles’ and some colourless heulandite crystals on the left. Stilbites of this form are rare at this locality, or any other Skye locality ! Self-collected 1995 (Author: Mike Wood)

Stilbite + Mordenite Sgurr nam Boc

Stonefly, 6mm long, from NW Scotland. They are abundant in some places, in the month of September. (Author: Mike Wood)

Stonefly, 6mm long, from NW Scotla

Summit of Braeriach (1296m) in top of huge south-facing cliffs, all granite. I spent a while searching with binoculars but failed to spot any pegmatite veins. Fortunately. (Author: Mike Wood)

Summit of Braeriach (1296m) in top

Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK Sunset of a lifetime at Talisker Bay : ) (Author: Mike Wood)

Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotla

Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK About 90cm long Time for a well-earned rest ! Otter sunbathing at Talisker Bay, May 2007. (Author: Mike Wood)

Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotla

The ’beach’ to the south of Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, at low tide. Sep. 2010. (Author: Mike Wood)

The ’beach’ to the sou

The Angel’s Peak across the cloud inversion. A flock of 24 geese flying southward, honking occasionally. (Author: Mike Wood)

The Angel’s Peak across the

The Cairngorms in early June this year. Still quite a lot of the winter’s snow about. On the plus side there were no midges. The mountain in the distance is called ’Cairngorm’, after which the range of mountains is named. It’s summit is 1244m, over 4,000 ft above sea level. Everywhere is granite. (Author: Mike Wood)

The Cairngorms in early June this

The cave was certainly real, but inside there was no trace of any crystals, not even any quartz on the roof or walls. The only good thing about it, apart from the satisfaction of actually getting there, was the rich variety of flora outside it, and the view. (Author: Mike Wood)

The cave was certainly real, but i

The East side of Ben a’ Bhuird is fringed with precipitous cliffs and corries, formed during the last ice-age, resulting in lots of exposed granite rock. There are not many pegmatites to see around here though, and what you find in exposures tend to be thin and stringy. (Author: Mike Wood)

The East side of Ben a’ Bhui

The footpath weaves through a carpet of bilberry (blueberry) and heather between the Caledonian Pines. A remnant of the ancient forest which once was far more extensive than it is today. (Author: Mike Wood)

The footpath weaves through a carp

The ladders leading to the Courvercle Hut from the Leschaux Glacier. This photo was taken much later in 2005, the ladders are in a different position to what they were in 1991. They are longer and steeper now, if I remember rightly. (Author: Mike Wood)

The ladders leading to the Courver

The mountain draws closer and the gradient increases (Author: Mike Wood)

The mountain draws closer and the

The next morning I walked back to base where I’d left my car at the Cairngorm Ski Centre. The fog came back with a vengeance and the wind blew strong, but I spied out the route before the view was obscured and used a map and compass. After about an hour I came across a large familiar footpath which led me safely off the mountain. I decided to return when there was less snow, which I did six weeks later for one superb day in July. (Author: Mike Wood)

The next morning I walked back to

The north summit of Ben a’ Bhuird, just a little under 4,000ft above sea level, and a long walk from anywhere. This high-level plateau is further east than the highest mountains, posted earlier. Still part of the same granite pluton. Photo taken august 2011. (Author: Mike Wood)

The north summit of Ben a’ B

The South Face of the Aiguille du Moine, above the spot where I was bivouacing for the night. The cave where I found the crystals is high on the upper part of the South Face. The next morning I climbed up the mountain from the top of the snowfield, trending leftwards along ledges to reach a gully, which eventually led to the arete on the left. Then the climbing got even harder.. Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)

The South Face of the Aiguille du

The summit ’tor’ of Beinn Mheadhoin (’Ben Vane’). These ’tors’ are known as ’barns’ locally. From a scanned photo taken in June 1994. (Author: Mike Wood)

The summit ’tor’ of Be

The summit of Ben Avon, zoom photo from Ben a’ Bhuird. Both of these mountains are huge and sprawling by UK standards. August 2011. (Author: Mike Wood)

The summit of Ben Avon, zoom photo

The way follows the Glacier de Leschaux for a little distance; where this glacier meets the Mer de Glace there are a lot of rocks about. (Lateral moraine?). I stopped to examine some of these boulders and found tiny crystals of pink fluorite in places. Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)

The way follows the Glacier de Les

Then you have to descend these steel ladders to get to the glacier (there are two sets of parallel ladders these days). Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)

Then you have to descend these ste

This is where these specimens came from, in the granite boulders in the bottom of the corrie. It’s called ’Coire nan Clach’ which translates from Gaelic as ’Corrie of Stones’ - quite appropriate ! Needless to say I haven’t examined every boulder in the corrie.. (Author: Mike Wood)

This is where these specimens came

This was my bed for the night before, on a mat in a bivi bag in a rocky niche. I was planning on sleeping on a nice grassy spot around the corner but the wind got up and it was cold, so I moved here for shelter. It was more comfortable than it looks! (Author: Mike Wood)

This was my bed for the night befo

Thomsonite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK FOV 4cm x 3cm Hemispherical aggregates of radiating thomsonite crystals, a typical habit for this zeolite minerals in the Tertiary basalts. There is a little associated gyrolite - a non-zeolite mineral. Self-collected 1996 (Author: Mike Wood)

Thomsonite Moonen Bay, Isle of Sky

Thomsonite + Analcime Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 10cm x 10cm x 2.5cm deep An unusually thick crust (7mm) of thomsonite in a large cavity in basalt, with analcime crystals up to 24mm across. Self-collected 2011 (Author: Mike Wood)

Thomsonite + Analcime Oisgill Bay,

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK FOV approx 50cm across A large pipe cavity lined with apophyllite and stalactitic thomsonite. The pipe is about 20cm in diameter. An unusual occurence; haven’t seen another one like it at Moonen Bay or elsewhere. Other cavities in the same boulder contain the same minerals, but in completely different habits to this single example. Photo taken April 2005. (Author: Mike Wood)

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Ba

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 33mm x 30mm x 24mm Pink coloured thomsonite in delicate stalactitic growths; quite unusual but rather pretty. The one on the right is 14mm tall. Associated with pinacoidal terminated apophyllite crystals. Self-collected 2005 (Author: Mike Wood)

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Ba

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK 26mm x 24mm x 20mm high ’Feathery’ masses of extremely thin thomsonite crystals, somewhat yellowed by dirt or staining. Associated with apophyllite in pyramidal terminated crystals to 7mm. Self-collected 2002 (Author: Mike Wood)

Thomsonite + Apophyllite Moonen Ba

Topaz Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK 11mm x 9mm x 7mm Lustrous, undamaged, transparent colourless topaz crystal. The tiny ’dimples’ on some of the termination faces have a square appearance, so it could be the topaz was host to tiny fluorite crystals at one time. Fluorite occurs in the vicinity in small amounts; as it also does at the VC Quarry. (Author: Mike Wood)

Topaz Lundy Island, Devon, England

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK 10mm crystal Gemmy topaz crystal to 10mm tall and 6mm across in this view, partially included in a smoky quartz crystal. Interesting etching on the termination. (Author: Mike Wood)

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devo

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK crystal 13mm across the other side (Author: Mike Wood)

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devo

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK 16mm x 13mm x 7mm (crystal) Another thumbnail of gemmy colourless topaz crystal on smoky quartz. (Author: Mike Wood)

Topaz on Quartz Lundy Island, Devo

Tourmaline var. Elbaite Glen Buchat, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK 4mm tall Terminated red-cap blue elbaite. The crystal is blue but has appeared a bit green in the photo. Acquired in 2008. (Author: Mike Wood)

Tourmaline var. Elbaite Glen Bucha

Tourmaline var. Schorl Pitcapel Quarry, Aberdeen, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK. 12cm tall x 7cm x 6cm Another view of the above specimen showing quartz-filled strain cracks in the schorl. Ergo, the quartz crystallised after the toumaline (schorl) which is usually the case in old pegmatites. The schorl crystals in this pegmatite are also bent or curved slightly, which may be because the host granite rock was still moving (emplacement) when (or just after) the pegmatite was formed. (Author: Mike Wood)

Tourmaline var. Schorl Pitcapel Qu

Tourmaline var. Schorl Pitcapel Quarry, Aberdeen, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK. 12cm tall x 7cm x 6cm Large Schorl crystals with a bit of pegmatite matrix (quartz, pink feldspar and white mica). The specimen has a sawn base. I got this from a guy at the Bakewell Show this year (october), who aquired it by exchange in 2000 - not long after it was ’mined’, apparently. (Author: Mike Wood)

Tourmaline var. Schorl Pitcapel Qu

Typical thin ’pegmatite’ vein in the granite of Ben a’ Bhuird. (Author: Mike Wood)

Typical thin ’pegmatite&rsqu

View across the wide gully between Carn Etchachan and Shelter Stone Crag. A rather unstable place. (Author: Mike Wood)

View across the wide gully between

View from Braeriach looking south towards Cairn Toul and The Angel’s Peak, both over 4,000ft. More granite to go and explore sometime... (Author: Mike Wood)

View from Braeriach looking south

View from the Glacier D’ Argentière towards the north faces of les Droites and Aiguille Verte. Photo taken July 2005. (Author: Mike Wood)

View from the Glacier D’ Arg

View looking out of the cave to the other side of the valley, where the ’Shelter Stone ’ lies - it is a huge flat boulder which climbers and bivouac enthusiasts have ’camped’ beneath, since climbing started around here. For my next trick, from the so-called crystal cave I decided to take a short-cut to the top of the cliff via a likely looking gully around the corner. Not one of my better ideas - I seemed to have forgotten that gullies usually become steeper and steeper the higher up you go! Carrying a large heavy rucksack and wearing big boots I found myself astride between rock walls in the steepest part of the gully (which was about 70 degrees) and wishing I wasn’t there! But I was committed and knew that the only way to do it was to focus my mind and go for it, which I did. Fortunately the difficulties were short, the angle eased off, and I was mighty relieved to top out on the nice flat grassy plateau, for a not very well-deserved rest!! Lesson learned?? Not really, just part of the experience, but I’ll certainly remember it, which is the main thing. -_- (Author: Mike Wood)

View looking out of the cave to th

View looking south from the eastern cliffs of Ben a’ Bhuird, towards where I left my car, about 10 miles (16km) distant. It was still there when I got back a few days later. (Author: Mike Wood)

View looking south from the easter

View of Carn Etchachan (1120m) and Shelter Stone Crag (just right of the highest point, between the two large scree fans) from the North, where the ’crystal cave ’ is - more of this later. Photo taken July 2006. (Author: Mike Wood)

View of Carn Etchachan (1120m) and

View of Loch Avon from the top of Shelter Stone Crag, looking East. The cliff below is about 800ft (~250m). All granite of course. And no, I didn’t climb up it to get here! (Author: Mike Wood)

View of Loch Avon from the top of

Wild camping by the Dubh Lochan (’Small Black Lake’) at 3,000ft. A great place to stay and get away from ’civilisation’ - I think that’s what they call it. I saw some bipeds about a kilometre distant on one occasion, but apart from that I saw no-one for three days. (Author: Mike Wood)

Wild camping by the Dubh Lochan (&