Quartz Rock Crystal – Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bernese Highland, Switzerland
 
 In the 1980s, a crystal digger on the Grimsel became aware of some rock crystals lying in front of the entrance to a marmot cave. It quickly became apparent that the marmots had made their home in a huge fissure a long time ago. Crystals from this find are characterized by their unmistakable quality and slightly smoky color as well as scratches from the claws of marmots. At this aesthetic specimen, a large number of these scratches can be seen, suggesting that  it is a piece from the ground which is at the beginning of the cleft. Specimens from the back of the approximately 20 meter long chasm have fewer scratch marks.  
 Another feature of Marmott cleft specimens are long prismatic crystals, often solitary. Thanks to the special aesthetics and the history of this locality, the Marmotta is one of the three most important finds in Switzerland. 
 Most of the large specimens from this find are in museums and are therefore rarely if ever to be found on the open market. This piece comes from an old collection of a prospector who was lucky enough to be able to work in this legendary cleft himself. 
 Decorative  and historical rock crystal specimen with crystals up to 11 cm long.