Morion Jet Black Quartz Crystals Melbur Pit St Stephen Cornwall UK Specimen

Genuine Morion Quartz – Melbur Pit, St Stephen, Cornwall, England

This Morion specimen featuring jet black quartz crystals from Melbur Pit, St Stephen, Cornwall, England, is a genuine and carefully selected British mineral. The photograph provided shows the exact specimen you will receive. Please refer to the images for full sizing and scale details.

This crystal includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming its genuine identity and documented Cornish provenance.

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Mineral Species & Crystal Structure

Morion is the dark, opaque to nearly opaque variety of smoky quartz, a member of the quartz group with the chemical formula SiO₂ (silicon dioxide). Quartz crystallises in the trigonal division of the hexagonal crystal system.

Mineral Name: Quartz (Variety: Morion)
Chemical Formula: SiO₂
Mineral Group: Silicate (Tectosilicate)
Crystal System: Trigonal
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Lustre: Vitreous
Transparency: Opaque to slightly translucent at edges

The intense jet black colour of morion results from natural irradiation acting on trace aluminium impurities within the quartz crystal lattice. This geological process alters the crystal’s internal structure, producing the deep smoky to black coloration characteristic of this variety.

Quartz commonly forms six-sided prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations, and morion crystals maintain this classic quartz morphology.

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Geological Setting – St Austell Granite & Cornish Pegmatites

Melbur Pit lies within the St Austell Granite district, part of the Cornubian Batholith formed during late Carboniferous to early Permian tectonic activity. The granite intrusion created an environment rich in mineral-forming fluids and pegmatitic activity.

Morion quartz forms in:

• Granite cavities and miarolitic pockets

• Pegmatite veins

• Hydrothermal quartz veins

Silica-rich fluids crystallised within fractures and open cavities as the granite cooled. Natural background radiation within the surrounding rocks gradually darkened some quartz crystals, producing the morion variety.

Associated minerals in the St Stephen and St Austell district may include:

• Tourmaline

• Kaolinite

• Fluorite

• Mica

• Feldspar

This geological environment makes Cornish quartz highly significant within British mineral collecting.

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Physical Characteristics & Notable Features

This specimen may display:

• Deep jet black prismatic quartz crystals

• Classic six-sided crystal faces

• Sharp pyramidal terminations

• Natural granite or clay matrix attachment

Despite its dark appearance, thinner crystal edges may show slight translucency under strong light. Surface striations along prism faces are typical growth features of quartz.

The dark coloration is natural and formed through geological processes rather than artificial treatment.

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Collectibility & Cornish Mineral Heritage

Morion quartz from documented Cornish localities such as Melbur Pit is highly desirable among collectors of British minerals. The St Austell Granite district is internationally known for its mineral diversity and historic china clay industry.

Collectors value Cornish morion for:

• Recognised St Stephen locality

• Natural irradiation-induced colour

• Classic quartz crystal habit

• Strong Cornish geological provenance

Jet black quartz crystals provide strong visual contrast and are particularly attractive display specimens.

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Authenticity & Presentation

This Morion quartz specimen has been carefully chosen to highlight the quality and natural character of Melbur Pit material. The image shown is of the exact specimen you will receive.

Included with your purchase is a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming this is a genuine Morion quartz specimen from Melbur Pit, St Stephen, Cornwall, England.

A striking example of Cornish granite-related quartz mineralisation, this jet black crystal specimen combines geological significance, locality documentation and classic crystal form in one authentic British piece.