{"product_id":"fru-bqz-8","title":"Boxwork Quartz Specimen (Zhejiang, China)","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoxwork Quartz Specimen \u003c\/strong\u003e- Xianyan Cave Temple (仙岩洞寺), Linghu Village (岭湖村), Qianqing Subdistrict (钱清街道), Keqiao District (柯桥区), Shaoxing City (绍兴市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), China \u003cspan\u003e(中国)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003eThe specimens from the Xianyan Cave Temple area are exceptional examples of what geologists call \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"97\"\u003eBoxwork Quartz\u003c\/b\u003e, often referred to informally as \"honeycomb quartz\" due to its intricate, lattice-like structure. These pieces are not simply crystals that grew in this shape; rather, they are \"mineral ghosts\" that preserve the memory of a different mineral that has long since vanished. This formation began millions of years ago when hydrothermal fluids, rich in dissolved silica (\u003cspan class=\"math-inline\" data-math=\"\\text{SiO}_2\" data-index-in-node=\"479\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex-html\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eSiO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e), permeated the volcanic fractures of the Keqiao region. These fluids deposited layers of quartz over a primary \"template\" mineral—most likely bladed calcite (\u003cspan class=\"math-inline\" data-math=\"\\text{CaCO}_3\" data-index-in-node=\"651\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex-html\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eCaCO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e) or baryte (\u003cspan class=\"math-inline\" data-math=\"\\text{BaSO}_4\" data-index-in-node=\"677\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex-html\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eBaSO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e)—which had already crystallised into thin, intersecting plates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003eAs the geological environment shifted, the chemistry of the groundwater changed, becoming acidic enough to dissolve the softer calcite template but leaving the durable quartz shells intact. This process created the delicate, hollow \"cells\" or boxes you see in these photos. The interior of these boxes is often lined with a secondary growth of \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"343\"\u003edruzy quartz\u003c\/b\u003e, consisting of thousands of microscopic crystal points that create a glittering effect when the specimen is turned in the light. This multi-stage formation is a hallmark of epithermal systems, where boiling fluids and cooling temperatures allow for the rapid precipitation and subsequent leaching of minerals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\"\u003eThe vibrant orange, ochre, and rust-red colors seen in your specimens are the result of iron oxide staining, primarily from minerals like \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"138\"\u003elimonite\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003cspan class=\"math-inline\" data-math=\"\\text{FeO}(\\text{OH}) \\cdot n\\text{H}_2\\text{O}\" data-index-in-node=\"148\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex-html\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003eFeO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mopen\"\u003e(\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003eOH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mclose\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mspace\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mbin\"\u003e⋅\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mspace\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mathnormal\"\u003en\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003eO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e) and \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"201\"\u003ehematite\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003cspan class=\"math-inline\" data-math=\"\\text{Fe}_2\\text{O}_3\" data-index-in-node=\"211\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"katex-html\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"base\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eFe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord text\"\u003eO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"msupsub\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-t vlist-t2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pstrut\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mord mtight\"\u003e3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-s\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist-r\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"vlist\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e). During the final stages of the stone's life in the mountain, iron-rich waters seeped into the hollow boxwork, leaving behind these mineral pigments. In the specific context of the Xianyan Cave locality, this boxwork quartz is highly significant because it demonstrates the intense hydrothermal \"boiling\" that occurred near the volcanic vents, providing a structural map of the ancient fractures that once carried mineral wealth through the earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"147\" data-start=\"136\"\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Xianyan Cave Temple, Linghu Village, Qianqing Subdistrict, Keqiao District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, China 仙岩洞寺 浙江省绍兴市柯桥区钱清街道岭湖村 (30°08'39.2\"N 120°22'14.9\"E)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"199\" data-start=\"196\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"213\" data-start=\"199\"\u003eMineral type:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Quartz (SiO2)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"367\" data-start=\"358\"\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e ~8(L) x 5(H) x 2(W) cm (see scale cube), 148 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frugeo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52751325102417,"sku":"FRU-BQZ-8","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0885\/9749\/6145\/files\/FRU-BQZ-8a.jpg?v=1767655627","url":"https:\/\/frugeo.science\/products\/fru-bqz-8","provider":"Frugeo Geology Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}