Cavradi gorge

20 | 05 | 2022

Alpine | Quartz | Europe | Calcite

The famous spot for wonderful hematite crystals in combination with smoky quartz in Switzerland

Talking of Cavradi you simply think of wonderful Hematite crystals in combination with light coloured smoky quartz at its best. A unique combination, that hasn’t been found at other localities in this quality so far and made this locality famous through out the world. For decades swiss Strahler are working in this small spot to discover these wonderful crystals.

View into the famous Cavradi gorge with its steeps slopes (F: Matthias Benz)

The hematite crystals are simply magic. With sizes up to 10cm the tabular crystals are sitting on the matrix or on quartz crystals. Especially thicker crystals are showing wonderful faces with great lustre. In some cases, small rutile crystals are grown on the faces.

View over the gorge towards the rhein valley (F: Matthias Benz)

Working in the steep slopes of the Cavradi gorge (F: Matthias Benz)

Nice smoky quartz right after discovery (F: Matthias Benz)

Fresh from the procket - grou with quartz crystal (F: Matthias Benz)

Especially the combination with wonderful quartz crystals in different varieties makes the spot so special. Quartz was found in a wide range. From pure rock crystals until dark coloured smoky quartz everything was found. Amethyst was found pretty rare but also in very good specimens. But in terms of quartz the light cognac coloured smoky quartzes are simply sticking out. Water clear and with unbelievable lustre they are forming wonderful groups with an outstanding aesthetic.

Exceptional hemataite-snake with adularia (Streglia) – 10,8 x 4,6cm (C: Private collection / F: Christian Hager)

There are a lot of other minerals found in these alpine clefts. From light yellow calcite over strontianit to adular, anatas and a bunch of rare minerals there was a huge variety discovered.

Simply have a look at the following wonderful specimens. They are all from the wonderful book “Cavradi”, displaying the hall of fame of swiss and international collections. Set together by Patrick Reith, Jochen Mattis and Teodosi Venzin with great photos shot by Christian Hager. Thanks to the team that we got the chance to use them in our blog!

Hematite rose from one oft he biggest clefts in Cavradi – 7 x 4cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Wonderful hematite specimen with adularia – 6 x 5,5 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Delicate hematite cluster on matrix (Val Aulta) – 6 x 4,5 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Double terminated quartz crystal with hematite on matrix (Val Aulta) – 10 x 12 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Thin tabular hematite on quartz cystal (Val Aulta) – 9,5 x 5,5 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Thick tabular hematite crystals on quartz with adularia – 7,5 x 6 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Intergrowth of thick tabular hematite crystals, discovered during the construction of the service road to the Curnera Dam – Size: 6,6 x 3,5cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Cavradi classic: aesthetic quartz specimen (Val Aulta) – 13 x 11 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Hematite with blueisch tarnish and quartz – 11 x 6 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Faint yellow calcite crystal with smaller white scalenohedras on matrix (Val Aulta) – 6 cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Thick tabular hematite, extremly rich in crystal faces – 5,5 x 4,2cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Hematite with quartz (Val Aulta) – 10 x 6cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Unique fractured rehaled quartz crystal on matrix (Val Aulta) – 3,7cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

A perfect quartz cluster on matrix (Val Aulta) – 6,5 x 6cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Unique specimen: Perfectly grown szepter amethyst with quartz, adularia and small hematite – 6 x 5cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Double terminated quartz with attractive, tarnished, unusual hematite crystals and orientated hematite inclusions – 6,7 x 1,8cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Detail shot oft he specimen before (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Detail shot of the specimen before (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Quartz crystal with skalenohedral calcite on matrix (Val Aulta) – 19,5 x 4,5cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Distorted quartz crystals with hematite inclusions – 2,7 x 2,2cm(C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Strontianite sheaf with small tourmaline neadle (Val Aulta) – 4cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Pale smoky quartz with hematite (Val Aulta) – 14cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Quartz with multifaceted hematite crystals, sometimes called „potatoes“ by strahler (Vals Aulta) – 9,3 x 4,6cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Hematite on matrix (Val Aulta) - 9,3 x 4,4cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Bizarre floater of red rutile and hematite (Val da Cristallas) – 3,5 x 2,5cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Distorted quartz with hematite and rutile (Val dils Cavengs) – 4,3 x 2,2cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Hematite with rutile on quartz (Val dils Cavengs) – 11,2 x 6cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Hematite with attractive tarnish and clear quartz (Val Aulta) – 15 x 10,7cm (C: Privat / F: Christian Hager)

Autor / Author
Matthias Benz / Germany
www.matthiasbenz.de

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