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General#MinCup26 - Round 1 Match 6 - Quartz vs. Asagiite

6th Sep 2026 00:01 UTCRyan Hamel Manager OP

It's a classic vs a newbie as the most common named mineral in the crust Quartz is up against an exceedingly-rare sea foam-green mineral discovered just a few years ago Asagiite.

Quartz is the most prevalent mineral on the surface of the Earth, makes up 20% of the crust second only to the feldspar group for most common mineral, and was the original inspiration for Dr. Eddie Dempsey to start Mineral Cup in 2017. When given room to grow, quartz forms hexagonal crystals, looking like a child’s drawing or clipart of a crystal. Trace contamination by other elements other than silica (SiO₂) lend quartz a rainbow of colours, including gemstone-varieties amethyst and rose quartz. Its use predates recorded history with evidence of quartz knapping of tools 1.2-2.5 million years ago.

Discovered in a mine in 2022 Asagiite recently gained recognition as an official mineral in 2023. Its striking aqua colour grants Asagiite its name from the Japanese for pale blue-green “asagi-iro”. This soft and fragile beauty grows thin plate-like crystals as a secondary mineral in fractures of serpentine (a Mineral Cup contender in 2018, 2019, and 2021). It forms from the decomposition of zinc- and copper-bearing ores by incorporating leftover elements of nickel, zinc, cobalt, and magnesium along with sulphates, oxides, and water into its crystal structure.

Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-results/vote-r1m06

Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-results/results-r1m06

6th Sep 2026 00:43 UTCLalith Aditya Senthil Kumar

Quartz is one of my favorite species, am a bit tired of grains at the moment.

6th Sep 2026 02:33 UTCYash Redkar

Asagiite is not a grain mineral, it forms very nice crystals on matrix.

6th Sep 2026 02:34 UTCYash Redkar

We should all support and vote asagiite in my opinion! Here are the reasons: Asagiite is a new mineral that is the nickel analogue of ktenasite. Its striking aqua colour grants Asagiite its name from the Japanese for pale blue-green “asagi-iro”. This beautiful blue mineral forms in the fractures of serpentine.

A strong reason to vote asagiite over quartz is that it would be a very interesting and memorable "underdog" victory story. Quartz is a predictable winner, but if we vote asagiite over quartz it creates a significant factor of unpredictability for the MinCup, which ultimately in my opinion makes it more memorable and fun, for example the very memorable victory of quetzalcoatlite over tourmaline in 2021. Also quetzalcoatlite had created MinCup history in 2021 by being the first mineral to win the MinCup in its first year of competing in the MinCup, and helping asagiite win against quartz in round 1 would be a step towards recreating such a rare moment. Make the right choice!

6th Sep 2026 02:56 UTCWayne Corwin 🌟

I get a kick out of the "Quartz from Quartz" example, when I know it's from Mexico.

Seems like a trick question!

6th Sep 2026 03:36 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

I amazes me the fascination to vote for an obscure mineral most will never see or own. Would I prefer to have a nice Arkansas Quartz in my collection or a picture of Asagiite? I think I know the answer!! Vote for Quartz!!!!

6th Sep 2026 04:24 UTCChris Emproto Manager

As the owner and photographer of just such an asagiite, I can confirm that it is leagues cooler than any Arkansas quartz. Vote ASAGIITE.

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