Casting natural looking crystals

[rfwheeler]

Is there a good way to get natural looking checking and cracking in a cast crystal? Between that and getting a good color variation from an opaque center to a clear outer edges, I'm blowing through what little resin I have left trying things out! Help!

Thank you!

 

[The Schlitzie]

I've seen people use cut up pieces of cellophane to simulate the I inclusions in quartz or amber. Maybe you could achieve the opaque to clear variations by injecting a tint into the mold?

 

[cavx]

If you want graduations, you might want to add layers. Cracks can happen all on their own if the resin you are using cured too hot or too fast.