Most people won’t ever get the opportunity to even touch something from Antarctica, let alone have this magnificent opportunity to own a piece of that mysterious continent. According to The Antarctic Treaty, participating countries of that treaty are not even allowed to own such a thing, which is why the Smithsonian can’t even technically own one. With several phantoms in a single crystal, uniform and clean structure, deep smoky color, and the story behind the find alone, this is a true piece of not just mineral history, but world history that is the the sort of piece that sets some collections aside from others.
 
Mineral: Quartz var. Smoky Phantom
Origin: Terre Adélie, Antarctica
Weight: 40.4 grams
Dimensions: 7.6cm x 2.0cm x 1.7cm
Unique Features: Very rare location, 1978 find