Cactus / Spirit Quartz

Spirit Quartz is also called Cactus Quartz, Pineapple Quartz and occasionally Porcupine Quartz.

 

Sprit Quartz was named by the local villagers due to its colour resembling Methylated Spirits, which, in South Africa is denatured alcohol with a purple dye added to prevent consumption.

 

Spirit Quartz has a unique structure in that the secondary growth points away from the prism at right angles, more often than not, the primary crystals termination remains free of the second-generation growth.

 

Though not exclusive to South Africa, the vast majority of Spirit Quartz available has its origins in Kwa-Mahlangu, Mpumalanga. It is an incredibly large deposit located in a massive fault running through the village of Boekenhouthoek.

 

Mined by local villages in their gardens, under their homes and in the nearby hillsides, it has been an incredible boon to the otherwise impoverished local economy.

 

The variations in both form and colour are staggering. From my own observations the colour varies depending on the depth that it is found. Closer to the surface you find white quartz and as the holes get deeper, it changes into a light lilac and progresses through deeper and darker hues until ultimately you find the rarest dark, black Morion quartz, locally known as “Coke” due to its resemblance to Coca-Cola.

The various growth forms constantly change as new holes are dug in different areas.