Quartz Crystals
Written and researched by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska, B.F.A.

Rock crystal is often referred to as quartz (silicon dioxide), which makes up 60 percent of the earth's crust. "The term crystal is commonly used in reference to gemstones because of the geometric symmetry of their internal structures" (Chase, 3).

SOME VARIATIONS OF QUARTZ ARE:

I. Macrocrystalline Quartz
....grows in veins or cavities that are partially filled with silica. Under favorable conditions in pegmatite; crystals of clear, smoky or amethyst quartz can grow to several hundred pounds.
• Amethyst (purple)
• Rose Quartz (pink)
  Crystals of rose quartz are very rare. Transparencies are uncommon; it is usually cloudy or cracked, because it is a brittle stone.

  Citrine (yellow)

  Gem quality citrine is extremely rare.

  Rock Quartz (colorless)

  Milky Quartz

  Milky quartz is milky white or cream and gets its appearance from inclusions of gas and liquid bubbles.

  Smokey

  Crystals weighing as much as 650 lbs have been found in Brazil.

  Chatoyant

  Chatoyant quartz has inclusions of crocidolite (blue asbestos)that makes a cat's eye effect.

  Rutilated

  Ruliated quartz can be red, black, or brassy yellow and has a metallic luster.

  Tourmalinated

  Tourmalinated quartz has inclusions of black tourmaline.

  Gold Quartz

  Gold quartz has inclusions of gold.

II. Chacedony or microcrystaleine Quartz
....In Chalcalony the silica forms compact masses of tiny crystals which are dull rather than glassy in appearance.
• Adventurine:
  Adventurine has inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and gives this stone a range of colors -- depending on the nature of the inclsuion. Adventurine is found in Brazil, India, and Russia mostly. However, other localities include the U.S.A., Japan, and Tanzania.

  Chalcedony

  Cyrysoprase

  Bloodstone

  Carnelian

  Moss Agate

  Tiger's Eye.

Rock crystal has the Mohs hardness rating of 7. The refractive index (RI) of rock crystal isa 81. It has vitreous luster; and is transparent. Stones as hard as 7 on the Mohs scale were carved by the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Chinese. In fact, the Chinese carved gemstones back to the Neolithic period. Carving requires tools harder than the material being worked. Rock crystal is noth pyroelectric and pieezoelectric. This means that, when the crystal is heated, an electrical charge is generated on its surface. The same thing happens when the crystal is subjected to strain.

Quartz are used in quartz analogue clocks and watches. Tiny computer chips make the clock mechanism move via the necessary number of vibrations. Radio frequencies are also carried by quartz.

SOME INTERESTING QUARTZ TRIVIA:
• The ancients thought the sun and light universe were housed within a perfect crystal.

• An Aztec rock crystal skull measures about 20 centimeters across its width (Walters, 78-79).

• The ancient Orientals cut crystals to use as correction for eye ailments.

• The world's largest crystal ball was cut in China, from Burmese rock crystal, it had a diameter of over 30 centimeters.

• The Smithsonian Institute also has a rock crystal of nearly 30 centimeters.

• Clear rock Crystal is oten said to contain healing energies (Walters, 137).

• Tourmaline contains long prismatic crystals. Brazil is home to an emerald green stone popularly known as the "Brazilian Emerald."

• Atlantis harnessed the sun's power through crystals by means of solar energy.

• ?Sir Isaac Newton discovered the color spectrum by refracting sunlight through a natural crystal. Refelcting rainbows on his wall allowed him to measure the different lengths of the rays of our invisible light spectrum" (Melia, 82).

• Crystal balls are said to encourage our own inner sight.

• Clear quartz exposed to radioactivity, found at great underground depths, absorbs ultraviolet light and becomes smoky quartz.

• Quartz with inclusions are found in Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Switzerland.

Most gemstones have crystalline properties with varying degrees of opaqueness and inclusions.

SOURCES:

Chase, Pamela Louise and Jonathan Pawlik. The Newcastle Guide to Healing Gemstones. North Hollywood, CA.: Newcastle Publishing Company, Inc., 1989.

Hall, Cally. Gem Stones. New York: A Dorling Kindersley, Inc,, 1994.

Melia, Dorothee L. Stone Power. New York: Warner Books, 1988.

Newman, GG, MA, Renee. Gemstone Buying Guide. Los Angeles: International Jewelry Publications, 1999.

O'Donoghue, Michael. VNR Color Dictionary of Minerals and Gemstones. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1982.

O'Neil, Paul. Gemstones. Alexandria, VA.: Time-Life Books (Planet Earth Series), 1983.

Richardson, Wally & Jenny and Lenora Huett. Spiritual Value of Gemstones. Marina del Rey, CA.: De Vorss & Company Publishers, 1988.

Walters, Raymond J.L.. The Power of Gemstones. New York: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1996.

Link:

Orphic Skull.com Sells all sort of crystal skull products.

You are the visitor since January 19, 2005

Webmaster and author: Margaret Sypniewska, B.F.A.
Owner: Raymond Sypniewski, B.S., M.A.
Email Margaret: Margaret
Email Raymond: Raymond

This page was last updated on May 22, 2008

This page is hosted by