Smoky quartz, Gwindel and fluorite – Rufibach Kluft, Zinggenstock, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

One of Switzerland's legendary finds is the crystal cleft discovered by Ernst and Hans (+ 1971) Rufibach on the Zinggenstock in the early 1960s. This find is characterized by the paragenesis of flawless smoky quartz and pink fluorite with a packaged surface and violet edges. These fluorites are unique in the world and thus make specimens from the Rufibach cleft unmistakable and extremely popular with collectors. The entire cleft system is now so unstable that further work is no longer possible. As a result, pieces from this famous cleft are rarely or never seen on the market.
The specimen on offer impresses with a fluorite crystal with an impressive 25 mm edge length with the typical characteristics of the Rufibachkluft of the Zinggenstock. Gwindel were present in the fissure, but were extremely rare, which makes it all the more special that a beautifully curved Gwindel can be admired here among the quartz crystals.
The smoky quartz is transparent, sharp-edged and long-prismatic.
Contrasting, aesthetic and hard to find classic from the Swiss Alps.