Quartz Gwindel (original) (raw)
About Quartz GwindelHide
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Name:
From the German name for twisted quartz, "Gwindel", derived from "gewunden" = contorted, twisted, wound. Pronounced "gvin-dell". There is no other thing called "Gwindel", any gwindel is necessarily a quartz.
A variety of Quartz
Quartz crystals that grew along and are slightly rotated around a single a-axis. This results in twisted and tabular crystals. The twist reflects the handedness of the quartz crystals. With increasing distance from the base
- right-handed gwindels twist clockwise.
- left-handed gwindels twist counter-clockwise.
In most gwindels the handedness can easily be determined by the position of the trapezohedral "x"-faces.
Gwindels are found in alpine-type fissures and are always accompanied by macromosaic quartz of normal habit. They are often smoky, rock crystal gwindels are less common.
The structural base of the twist has just recently been discovered: A high number of straight screw dislocations cause a uniform so-called Eshelby twist (Cordier and Heidelbach, 2013; Eshelby, 1953) that is typical for slow growing crystals. This slow growth is in line with the occurrence of gwindels in certain alpine-type fissures.
Because of the often multiple tips and the strong development of sutures on the crystal surface, gwindels are often described as lateral stacks of quartz crystals. This is not correct: each gwindel starts as a single crystal, and only the overgrowth with quartz of a macromosaic structure causes the impression of a composite specimen (Kuzmina et al, 1987; Dolino and Bastie, 2009).
Note: Nobody says "Quarzgwindel" in Switzerland or Austria, it is just "Gwindel".
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Mindat ID:
39374 (as Quartz Gwindel)
3337 (as Quartz)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39374:8 (as Quartz Gwindel)
mindat:1:1:3337:0 (as Quartz)
f17059ea-0a8b-4a34-9f7e-23c65845f30d (as Quartz Gwindel)
4ca61d6f-75f8-4208-8fb2-3b0eecbcd8f0 (as Quartz)
Pronunciation of Quartz GwindelHide
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Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry, your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. | Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Chemistry of Quartz GwindelHide
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Synonyms of Quartz GwindelHide
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Other Language Names for Quartz GwindelHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Other InformationHide
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Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Quartz GwindelHide
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References for Quartz GwindelHide
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Localities for Quartz GwindelHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.