Quartz, K Feldspar Var. Adularia, and Epidote

A beautiful milky quartz specimen lightly encrusted with distinctive orange K-feldspar var. adularia crystals, accented by bright green epidote and perched atop dark amygdaloidal basalt. This lovely piece comes from the historic Mass C shaft in Ontonagon, Michigan. I acquired it directly from the miner, who collected it several decades ago when he and his friends were exploring old mine shafts—venturing up to half a mile underground. These shafts are now inaccessible, making specimens from this locality increasingly rare. The orange coloration of the adularia is due to disseminated copper, offering a notable contrast against the quartz and epidote. A unique and tangible piece of Michigan's rich mining history.