can quartz crystals be found in the UK?
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Yep. I left my collection behind when I headed west...
They'll be common in most quartz veins in igneous dykes, etc., but a person will have to seriously look around for crystals over an inch.
They'll be common in most quartz veins in igneous dykes, etc., but a person will have to seriously look around for crystals over an inch.
Jimbo is right about really having to look for big ones, though we do get geodes that when split open sometimes yield good stuff.
There are a few rockhounds on the list, hopefully they'll have more to say about this than I do, I rarely go looking nowadays, though HWMBLT brings back interesting bit ands pieces from his hillwalks.
Cheers,
Toddy
There are a few rockhounds on the list, hopefully they'll have more to say about this than I do, I rarely go looking nowadays, though HWMBLT brings back interesting bit ands pieces from his hillwalks.
Cheers,
Toddy
Absolutely you can. Quite often you'll find geodes with small crystals, but I agree with what others have said, to find really good crystals you not only need to know where to look, but as with most things on our small island, you need permission to go and look in most of the best seams. You can strike it lucky sometimes around Cornwall, The Pennines and other parts of the Midlands. Be patient and keep your eyes peeled and you never know. Be aware as well that sometimes, what looks like a piece of rock can be transformed by polishing in a tumbler
Rob
Need to contact Admin...
You can always try and contact some of the hardstone quarries and ask them. I have always picked up interesting things when I have been mooching about in quarries.
Then again, I spend a lot of time in quarries.
Then again, I spend a lot of time in quarries.
Is it true that gold is often found near quartz veins? I'm sure i heard that somewhere reliable.. I've got quite a lot of quartz on my land in Spain.
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HWMBLT found some in Leadhills and the Campsies, and I know my G.G.Grandpa found some in the Ochils, but it's all tiny, tiny stuff 
Cheers,
Toddy
Cheers,
Toddy
White quartz has always been regarded by prospectors as 'the home of gold'. You can often see mineralisation in quartz, and I have seen gold mineralisation in quartz from Scotland.
If the gold price keeps rising then expolitation of our gold reserves will become economic. There are significant deposits of gold bearing rocks in Perthshire, the Ochills, Sutherland, and also in Cornwall/Devon and in Ireland.
If the gold price keeps rising then expolitation of our gold reserves will become economic. There are significant deposits of gold bearing rocks in Perthshire, the Ochills, Sutherland, and also in Cornwall/Devon and in Ireland.
Doc said:
Doc,
shoosh, don't start the next gold rush - my claim hasn't gone through yet..
Cheers
JFW
Actually, it all belongs to HM the Queen. Landowner's mineral rights do not include gold and silver in the UK. Mining companies have to negotiate with the crown mineral agent.
How does that work when folks pan for gold? There's an annual competition up at Leadhills and there are people who teach others on specifically labelled *GoldPanning courses* too. 
Cheers,
Toddy
Cheers,
Toddy
I think a blind eye is turned, although at one time the crown mineral agent would issue a 'letter of no objection' to recreational panners. Currently the mineral agent is a big company and I'm not sure if this is still the practice.
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/legislation/uk_minown.html
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/legislation/uk_minown.html
T
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hi Storm
a lot depends on how large a crystal you want as quartz is the second most common mineral next to salt its easy to find huge boulders made of small quartz crystals but if you are after a node sized one it could be a tad more illusive and the best hunting grounds in the south west have thousands of people looking for the same thing, best find I ever made was in the 70's when I found peice of amethyst node which is about nine inches long with some quite large cystals on it. although the crystals are full of imperfections I think it is a beautiful thing.
Good hunting Storm I hope you find what you are after.
a lot depends on how large a crystal you want as quartz is the second most common mineral next to salt its easy to find huge boulders made of small quartz crystals but if you are after a node sized one it could be a tad more illusive and the best hunting grounds in the south west have thousands of people looking for the same thing, best find I ever made was in the 70's when I found peice of amethyst node which is about nine inches long with some quite large cystals on it. although the crystals are full of imperfections I think it is a beautiful thing.
Good hunting Storm I hope you find what you are after.
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