Large smokey quartz crystal - Maryland Specimen

This specimen was not stolen, but it is "lost," that is, it has been apparently lost for years. It may exist in a museum collection, or perhaps in someones personal collection. I would very much like to track this down.

From: USGS - Department of the Interior - "Mineral Resources of the Unites States," Calendar Year 1903 (Printed 1904)

Page 947:

"In the report of this bureau for 1896, reference was made to a large crystal of smoky quartz from Harford County, Maryland and to the evidence afforded by the numerous pebbles of this material in the Potomac Gravels of its presence in considerable amount in the crystalline rocks farther up.
It seems that an enormous specimen of the mineral was obtained in Maryland many years ago, which has not been heretofore recorded. Mr. Edward C. Mitchell, president of the Academy of Sciences of St. Paul, Minnesota, writes that he has in his possession a fine crystal of smoky quartz, 16 inches long, and 7 1/2" in diameter, and weighing 47 pounds, which he found in 1860 near Ellicotts Mills in Howard County, Maryland."

I have checked with the Minnesota academy and the Minnesota Historical Society, both organizations of which the Reverend Mitchell was a board member. They have both checked and the specimen has never been in their collections. I am currently checking with a few other places in Minnesota, but thought I might put out feelers here on Mindat, to see if anyone has run across this specimen or has knowledge of its whereabouts.

Jeff Nagy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2009 01:55PM by Jeff Nagy.

Jeff,

I doubt the second picture from the bottom is the Mitchell smoky quartz as it is not smoky and only measures 10" in length. I surely hope the Mitchell stone has not met the same fate.


I'll continue to scour the web and report anything I find.

Phil

Just a beginner but, so were you!

A year has passed, and I am still searching for this specimen, last seen in 1905. If anyone has information regarding its location, please e-mail me at JWNagy@comcast.net.

Additional information regarding its appearance. The apex of the crystal was missing when it was first found, and It is a light brown in color.


Jeff Nagy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/2010 01:06PM by Jeff Nagy.

Jeff,

Have you spoken to Fred Parker of Parker Minerals? Fred specializes in Maryland minerals. parkermineral@comcast.net. Fred will be at the Rochester show in April, he is a featured speaker.

Best wishes,

Joe Polityka

Joe,

Fred is a good friend of Jeff's and mine. He is most interested in finding this crystal, too, as we believe it would be the largest smoky quartz crystal on record from Maryland.

Guy