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Quartz, Belgium
Posted by Harjo Neutkens
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Quartz, Belgium November 08, 2009 10:16AM |
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Click here to view Best Minerals Quartz and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of Best Minerals articles.
Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Quartz
SiO2 trigonal
Quartz from Belgium
Quartz is a common mineral in Belgium (as in most countries). Crystals of any size and quality however are rather rare nowadays.
The best Quartz crystals arguably came out of the Quartzite quarries south of Brussels. The quarries of Nil-St Vincent, Opprebais and Dongelberg delivered outstanding Quartz crystals up to 50 cm in length, sometimes accompanied by up to 1 cm large Anatase crystals and sometimes included with Tourmaline crystals.
Also in the Porphyry quarries of Quenast, Lessines, Bierges and Deux-Acren large, up to 50 cm, Quartz crystals have been found and are probably the only locality in Belgium where Japan law twins occurred.
Nowadays the best opportunities to find Quartz crystals of any importance are the Quartz veins in the Ardennes massif, especially around the towns of Bertrix and Bastogne and around the town of Ghedinne, on the edge of the Rocroi massif, as well as the Quartz veins that are occasionally encountered in the Porphyry quarries.
In the Ardennes it might however take years to find out where the Quartz veins are located because most of them are buried under 2 metres of soil in the middle of huge forests. And upon locating one there's still a very small chance that one will find a pocket. The crystallised quartz veins in the Porphyry quarries only occur in the contact zone of Porphyry with the adjacent rock, so only very occasionally these veins can be seen.
Several Quartz veins are located south of the provincial town of Bastogne (known throughout the world because one of the most important battles of world war II was fought there, the battle of the bulge). The Quartz veins straddle the Wardin fault (faille de Wardin) that follows a rough line between the villages of Lutrebois, Marvie, Wardin and Schimpach (Luxembourg). Pockets in these Quartz veins are usually filled with red pocket clay containing a lot of Iron, also Hematite (as "Glaskopf" ) and Limonite are usually present in the pockets. This is why the Quartz veins were mined, to take out the Iron rich pocket clay, Limonite and Hematite and throw away the Quartz, leaving nice crystals for collectors centuries later......Most of the occurrences are either on private property or state owned forests so no searching for minerals should be undertaken without the authorisation of the land owner or the authorities.
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Wardin
On the dumps of an ancient Iron prospect in a Quartz vein near the small village of Wardin many very nice specimens have been found in the year 2006 and 2007, they came in pretty groups up to 20 cm as well as loose crystals up to 12 cm in length. Of special interest is the fact that Faden crystals were quite common, as well as double terminated crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Marvie
Click here for a locality photo
Near the small village of Marvie several Quartz veins occur near the Wardin fault. Some of the pockets contain Chlorite and many of the Quartz crystals from these pockets are Chlorite included, sometimes showing attractive phantoms. Also on the fields around the villages of Marvie and Wardin one can find good Quartz specimens (along with the odd world war II hand grenade!!)
In 2010 a large pocket was found in one of the many Quartz veins that are situated in the large forest between Marvie, Wardin and the Luxembourg border. Excellent crystals came out of the pocket. Crystals up to 22 cm in lengths with good lustre and clarity.
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Lutrebois
Quartz veins edging the Wardin fault. Especially after the farmers have ploughed their fields there are good finding opportunities.
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Les Roches Quarry
Click here for a locality photo
In the 1970s and 80s several fissures were encountered in Les Roches quarry (on the edge of Bastogne town). They showed a nice Alpine type mineralogy; excellent slightly smoky Quartz crystals accompanied by Titanite, Apatite, Anatase and Chlorite. Some very fine examples reside in private collections in Belgium.
South of the village of Bertrix several localities produced fine Quartz specimens. The localities are situated on the edge of La Haie Forest.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie Forest, Les Rochettes Quarry
Click here for a locality photo
Houthoofdt-Collette quarry produced very nice Quartz specimens over the years. They are accompanied by Chlorite, Apatite, very nice red Anatase, Titanite and Rutile in Alpine type fissures.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie Forest, Old Quarry
On the dumps of a small old quarry close to the Houthoofdt-Collette quarry nice Quartz crystals have been found. Inside the massive Quartz interesting micros can be observed like Anatase, Brookite, Rutile, Fuchsite and Xenotyme-(Y)
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz (Var: Amethyst)
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Salm-Chateau
What I consider (in my humble opinion) to be the most aesthetic Quartz specimens from Belgium are the Amethyst sceptres that were recovered from a Quartz vein near the village of Salm-Chateau. The Scepter crystals could get up to 5 cm in length and the most beautiful specimens were those where the Amethyst sceptres are neatly sitting inside Turquoise lined pockets, amazing!
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Cahai
Around the small town of Vielsalm Cotticule has been mined in many mines and quarries, Cotticule is a metamorphic rock containing many small Spessartine Garnets. It is used as an abrasive stone for sharpening razor blades and knives and has been marketed world wide. Nowadays only one quarry in the nearby town of Lierneux remains active producing Cotticule (now a luxury item whereas it used to be a household item...)
The Cotticule is intersected by small Quartz veins and inside pockets in thos veins nice small Quartz crystals could be found, often as sceptres. Apart from those a long list of interesting micros occur in them, most notable excellent Turquoise (also as single crystals)
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
In Brabant Province a couple of very large scale quarries exploit Porphyre, a very hard eruptive rock. Spectacular Quartz crystal have come out of the quarries of Quenast, Deux-Acren, Lessines and Bierghes.
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Rebecq, Bierghes, Porphyry quarry
Click here for a locality photo
In 2011, a vein was discovered showing a huge potential for Quartz specimens. The vein was worked for a couple of months by three consecutive a teams of Belgian collectors. Plates covered with very fine, slender, tapered Quartz crystals were found. Almost all of the crystals have red stains of Hematite, and specimens from some pockets show Chlorite inclusions, giving them a nice Alpine touch. Very nice plates of up to 50cm, showing crystals of up to 20cm long were found.
Very nice Fadenquartzes and many Muzo-habit Quartz were amongst the crystals, and I've been told there also were some Japan-law twins amongst them.
The quarry is in full operation, and it is forbidden to enter the quarry without the specific authorisation of the management. At the moment (mid 2012) no permits are being given to collectors until further notice.
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Rebecq, Quenast, Porphyr Quarries
Click here for a locality photo
In the past some spectacular smoky Quartz specimens have been recovered from Quenast. The largest crystals measured up to 50 cm in length! Sometimes the Quartz specimens were included with Tourmaline and accompanied by centimetre large Anatase crystals. The best specimens reside in a few private collections in Belgium.
A large Quartz vein straddling the contact between porphyry and the surrounding slate, has been worked for Quartz specimens. Most of the specimens from this vein show somewhat milky crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Walhain, Nil-St Vincent-St Martin
In the Quartzite quarries south of Brussels some amazing Quartz specimens have been found decades ago. Single crystals could get up to 50 cm in length and 20 cm wide! The most important Quarries were Opprebais and Nil-St Vincent.
Can anyone help me with information and/or photographs of specimens from these localities?
Quartz (Var: Morion)
Belgium
Liège Province, Visé, Richelle
In the Dinantian Limestone near the small town of Visé (close to the Dutch border) very fine specimens of Morion Quartz have been found about 20 years ago. Sometimes nice thick tabular crystal of (Meta) Torbernite can be observed sitting on the Morion crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Sarolay
Location for very nice Fadenquartz and Fenstered Quartz.
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Wellin, Fond des Vaulx Quarry
Click here for a locality photo
In the Devonian Limestone exploited by the quarries around the village of Wellin very nice smoky coloured Quartz crystals can occasionally be found. The crystals show organic inclusions that are responsible for the smoky colour.
Apart from the smoky coloured Quartz crystals colourless needle Quartz has been found on and off in Fond des vaulx Quarry. Pockets can be lined with up to 5 cm long but only a couple of mm thick Quartz needles.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Namur Province, Assesse, Crupet
Near the small picturesque village of Crupet nice Quartz geodes have been found. The biggest geodes found were in excess of 30 cm in diameter (collection Jose Dehove). The occurrence is restricted to one isolated field, the field is private property so no searching for minerals should be undertaken without the authorisation of the land owner.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Limbourg, Bilstain, Bilstain quarry
Active quarry. Quartz lined geodes in Limestone, sometimes also with Dolomite, Calcite, Aragonite and Hematite.
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Amay
On a field 2 km north of the small village of Amay many nice Quartz crystals were found in the 1970s.
Many of the Quartz crystal show a slight smoky colour and many are double terminated. Interestingly also quite a few Fensterquarz crystals were found.
A short story about the discovery of the locality: The doctor of Amay happened to be a mineral collector and had a small display cabinet with some minerals in his waiting room. One day a local farmer came to see the doctor and noticed the minerals in the waiting room upon which the farmer said to the doctor: "oh, I've got lots of those scattered around on my field". After asking for the exact spot and permission to dig in the field the doctor collected many nice crystals together with Jose Dehove (info Jose Dehove).
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Click here to view Best Minerals Quartz and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of Best Minerals articles.
Edited 78 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2013 06:23PM by Harjo Neutkens.
Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Quartz
SiO2 trigonal
 | |
| Working a pocket in an Ardennes Quartz vein | © Harjo |
Quartz from Belgium
Quartz is a common mineral in Belgium (as in most countries). Crystals of any size and quality however are rather rare nowadays.
The best Quartz crystals arguably came out of the Quartzite quarries south of Brussels. The quarries of Nil-St Vincent, Opprebais and Dongelberg delivered outstanding Quartz crystals up to 50 cm in length, sometimes accompanied by up to 1 cm large Anatase crystals and sometimes included with Tourmaline crystals.
Also in the Porphyry quarries of Quenast, Lessines, Bierges and Deux-Acren large, up to 50 cm, Quartz crystals have been found and are probably the only locality in Belgium where Japan law twins occurred.
Nowadays the best opportunities to find Quartz crystals of any importance are the Quartz veins in the Ardennes massif, especially around the towns of Bertrix and Bastogne and around the town of Ghedinne, on the edge of the Rocroi massif, as well as the Quartz veins that are occasionally encountered in the Porphyry quarries.
In the Ardennes it might however take years to find out where the Quartz veins are located because most of them are buried under 2 metres of soil in the middle of huge forests. And upon locating one there's still a very small chance that one will find a pocket. The crystallised quartz veins in the Porphyry quarries only occur in the contact zone of Porphyry with the adjacent rock, so only very occasionally these veins can be seen.
Several Quartz veins are located south of the provincial town of Bastogne (known throughout the world because one of the most important battles of world war II was fought there, the battle of the bulge). The Quartz veins straddle the Wardin fault (faille de Wardin) that follows a rough line between the villages of Lutrebois, Marvie, Wardin and Schimpach (Luxembourg). Pockets in these Quartz veins are usually filled with red pocket clay containing a lot of Iron, also Hematite (as "Glaskopf" ) and Limonite are usually present in the pockets. This is why the Quartz veins were mined, to take out the Iron rich pocket clay, Limonite and Hematite and throw away the Quartz, leaving nice crystals for collectors centuries later......Most of the occurrences are either on private property or state owned forests so no searching for minerals should be undertaken without the authorisation of the land owner or the authorities.
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Wardin
 | |
| 8x8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 11x7x4cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 12x8x5cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 9x6cm | © Harjo |
On the dumps of an ancient Iron prospect in a Quartz vein near the small village of Wardin many very nice specimens have been found in the year 2006 and 2007, they came in pretty groups up to 20 cm as well as loose crystals up to 12 cm in length. Of special interest is the fact that Faden crystals were quite common, as well as double terminated crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Marvie
 | |
| Very large Quartz group from Marvie | © Harjo |
 | |
| 20cm long | © Harjo |
 | |
| 20cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| 15cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| 15cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| 19cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| 26x22cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| Rutilated Quartz,5cm tall | © Harjo |
 | |
| Rutilated Quartz, 6cm tall | © Harjo |
Click here for a locality photo
Near the small village of Marvie several Quartz veins occur near the Wardin fault. Some of the pockets contain Chlorite and many of the Quartz crystals from these pockets are Chlorite included, sometimes showing attractive phantoms. Also on the fields around the villages of Marvie and Wardin one can find good Quartz specimens (along with the odd world war II hand grenade!!)
In 2010 a large pocket was found in one of the many Quartz veins that are situated in the large forest between Marvie, Wardin and the Luxembourg border. Excellent crystals came out of the pocket. Crystals up to 22 cm in lengths with good lustre and clarity.
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Lutrebois
 | |
| 6x5,5x5cm | © Harjo |
Quartz veins edging the Wardin fault. Especially after the farmers have ploughed their fields there are good finding opportunities.
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bastogne, Les Roches Quarry
 | |
| 9x6cm | © JDehove |
Click here for a locality photo
In the 1970s and 80s several fissures were encountered in Les Roches quarry (on the edge of Bastogne town). They showed a nice Alpine type mineralogy; excellent slightly smoky Quartz crystals accompanied by Titanite, Apatite, Anatase and Chlorite. Some very fine examples reside in private collections in Belgium.
South of the village of Bertrix several localities produced fine Quartz specimens. The localities are situated on the edge of La Haie Forest.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie Forest, Les Rochettes Quarry
 | |
| 4 cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| FOV 0,6cm | © Harjo |
Click here for a locality photo
Houthoofdt-Collette quarry produced very nice Quartz specimens over the years. They are accompanied by Chlorite, Apatite, very nice red Anatase, Titanite and Rutile in Alpine type fissures.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie Forest, Old Quarry
 | |
| 7x3cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| FOV 5cm | © Harjo |
On the dumps of a small old quarry close to the Houthoofdt-Collette quarry nice Quartz crystals have been found. Inside the massive Quartz interesting micros can be observed like Anatase, Brookite, Rutile, Fuchsite and Xenotyme-(Y)
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz (Var: Amethyst)
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Salm-Chateau
 | |
| FOV 3x2cm | © JDehove |
What I consider (in my humble opinion) to be the most aesthetic Quartz specimens from Belgium are the Amethyst sceptres that were recovered from a Quartz vein near the village of Salm-Chateau. The Scepter crystals could get up to 5 cm in length and the most beautiful specimens were those where the Amethyst sceptres are neatly sitting inside Turquoise lined pockets, amazing!
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Cahai
 | |
| FOV 0,8cm, Mario Orinx coll. | © Harjo |
Around the small town of Vielsalm Cotticule has been mined in many mines and quarries, Cotticule is a metamorphic rock containing many small Spessartine Garnets. It is used as an abrasive stone for sharpening razor blades and knives and has been marketed world wide. Nowadays only one quarry in the nearby town of Lierneux remains active producing Cotticule (now a luxury item whereas it used to be a household item...)
The Cotticule is intersected by small Quartz veins and inside pockets in thos veins nice small Quartz crystals could be found, often as sceptres. Apart from those a long list of interesting micros occur in them, most notable excellent Turquoise (also as single crystals)
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
In Brabant Province a couple of very large scale quarries exploit Porphyre, a very hard eruptive rock. Spectacular Quartz crystal have come out of the quarries of Quenast, Deux-Acren, Lessines and Bierghes.
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Rebecq, Bierghes, Porphyry quarry
 | |
| 12x13cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 22x23cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 20x14cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 19x15cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 11x8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 20x16cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 10x9cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 24x18cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 14x7cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 12,5cm | © Paul De Bondt |
Click here for a locality photo
In 2011, a vein was discovered showing a huge potential for Quartz specimens. The vein was worked for a couple of months by three consecutive a teams of Belgian collectors. Plates covered with very fine, slender, tapered Quartz crystals were found. Almost all of the crystals have red stains of Hematite, and specimens from some pockets show Chlorite inclusions, giving them a nice Alpine touch. Very nice plates of up to 50cm, showing crystals of up to 20cm long were found.
Very nice Fadenquartzes and many Muzo-habit Quartz were amongst the crystals, and I've been told there also were some Japan-law twins amongst them.
The quarry is in full operation, and it is forbidden to enter the quarry without the specific authorisation of the management. At the moment (mid 2012) no permits are being given to collectors until further notice.
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Rebecq, Quenast, Porphyr Quarries
 | |
| 7,5cm | © Paul De Bondt 2013 |
 | |
| 8cm | © Paul De Bondt 2013 |
 | |
| 12,5 cm | © Paul De Bondt |
Click here for a locality photo
In the past some spectacular smoky Quartz specimens have been recovered from Quenast. The largest crystals measured up to 50 cm in length! Sometimes the Quartz specimens were included with Tourmaline and accompanied by centimetre large Anatase crystals. The best specimens reside in a few private collections in Belgium.
A large Quartz vein straddling the contact between porphyry and the surrounding slate, has been worked for Quartz specimens. Most of the specimens from this vein show somewhat milky crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Walloon Brabant Province, Walhain, Nil-St Vincent-St Martin
 | |
| 8,8cm | © Paul De Bondt |
 | |
| 7,3cm | © Paul De Bondt |
In the Quartzite quarries south of Brussels some amazing Quartz specimens have been found decades ago. Single crystals could get up to 50 cm in length and 20 cm wide! The most important Quarries were Opprebais and Nil-St Vincent.
Can anyone help me with information and/or photographs of specimens from these localities?
Quartz (Var: Morion)
Belgium
Liège Province, Visé, Richelle
 | |
| 14,4cm | © Paul De Bondt |
 | |
| 10,7cm | © Paul De Bondt |
In the Dinantian Limestone near the small town of Visé (close to the Dutch border) very fine specimens of Morion Quartz have been found about 20 years ago. Sometimes nice thick tabular crystal of (Meta) Torbernite can be observed sitting on the Morion crystals.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Sarolay
 | |
| 2cm | © |
 | |
| 2cm | © |
 | |
| 6cm | © |
Location for very nice Fadenquartz and Fenstered Quartz.
Quartz
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Wellin, Fond des Vaulx Quarry
 | |
| FOV 3 cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| FOV 6x4,5cm | © Jose Dehove |
 | |
| FOV0,6cm | © Jose Dehove |
Click here for a locality photo
In the Devonian Limestone exploited by the quarries around the village of Wellin very nice smoky coloured Quartz crystals can occasionally be found. The crystals show organic inclusions that are responsible for the smoky colour.
Apart from the smoky coloured Quartz crystals colourless needle Quartz has been found on and off in Fond des vaulx Quarry. Pockets can be lined with up to 5 cm long but only a couple of mm thick Quartz needles.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Namur Province, Assesse, Crupet
 | |
| 9x11cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| 12,5x11cm | © Harjo |
Near the small picturesque village of Crupet nice Quartz geodes have been found. The biggest geodes found were in excess of 30 cm in diameter (collection Jose Dehove). The occurrence is restricted to one isolated field, the field is private property so no searching for minerals should be undertaken without the authorisation of the land owner.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Limbourg, Bilstain, Bilstain quarry
 | |
| 12cm diameter | © Harjo |
 | |
| Quartz, Dolomite 9cm | © Harjo |
Active quarry. Quartz lined geodes in Limestone, sometimes also with Dolomite, Calcite, Aragonite and Hematite.
Quartz
Belgium
Liège Province, Amay
 | |
| 8x6cm | © Jose Dehove |
 | |
| 8x6cm | © Jose Dehove |
On a field 2 km north of the small village of Amay many nice Quartz crystals were found in the 1970s.
Many of the Quartz crystal show a slight smoky colour and many are double terminated. Interestingly also quite a few Fensterquarz crystals were found.
A short story about the discovery of the locality: The doctor of Amay happened to be a mineral collector and had a small display cabinet with some minerals in his waiting room. One day a local farmer came to see the doctor and noticed the minerals in the waiting room upon which the farmer said to the doctor: "oh, I've got lots of those scattered around on my field". After asking for the exact spot and permission to dig in the field the doctor collected many nice crystals together with Jose Dehove (info Jose Dehove).
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
[Harjo Neutkens 2010]
Click here to view Best Minerals Quartz and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of Best Minerals articles.
Edited 78 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2013 06:23PM by Harjo Neutkens.
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