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crystals,
gems and minerals
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Quartz
(April Birthstone)
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Scientific:
Named after a Slavic word
for "hard" or crystal named for the Greek
word for "Ice". The Greeks believed that
rock crystal was eternally frozen. Quartz is
one of the most widely distributed minerals
in the earth's crust.
12 % of the earth's crust is quartz, which
is also known as silica. Quartz is a family
of minerals with the same chemical
composition; silicon dioxide (SiO2), and
similar physical properties. Clear quartz is
the most pure variety. Other varieties of
macro-crystalline quartz (recognizable with
the naked eye), include citrine, amethyst,
aventurine, blue quartz, hawks-eye, tigereye,
prasiloite, quartz cats eye, smoky, and rose
quartz. Microscopically small crystal quartz
(called crypto-crystaline quartz), generally
known as chalcedony, includes agate,
petrified wood, chrysoprase, bloodstone,
jasper, carnelian, moss agate and sard. |
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Clear
quartz is colorless, transparent or milky.
Unlike diamonds, quartz has no fluorescence,
and unlike aquamarines, it has no
pleochroism. Quartz is formed in trigonal,
hexagonal prisms with pyramidal or
bi-pyramidal terminations, which have no
cleavage.
Though rock crystals weighing many tons have
been found, gem quality material is rare.
Quartz inclusions are of goethite (star
quartz), gold, pyrite, rutile, and
tourmaline. Milky quartz includes trapped
gas and liquid bubbles. The degree of
milkiness depends on the number and size of
inclusions present. When cut into cabochons
it may be confused with opal because of its
vitreous luster. |
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Interruptions in the growth of a crystal can
produce regular inclusions; parallel growth
layers are sometimes called phantoms. The
names ghost, phantom, specter and shadow
crystal are applied to a form of quartz in
which the crystallization was interrupted so
that in the transparent successive layers
there is an occasional opaque layer, often
no thicker than the finest dusting of a
white material.
Found all over the world, the important
deposits are in Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia,
Ontario Canada, the USA, and the French and
Swiss Alps, known for their magnificent
large crystals. The largest crystals
originate from the fluids associated with
intrusive magmatic phenomena and are found
in pegmatitic pneumatolytic and hydrothermal
deposits. The largest recorded quartz
crystal was about 20 feet long and weighed
more than 48 tons. Quartz also occurs in
sedimentary and metamorphic environments as
very small crystals. Quartz can be
distinguished from glass or lead crystal by
its birefringence (double refraction). Glass
also includes minute air bubbles. Quartz has
a hardness of 7 while glass has a hardness
of 5. |
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As a gem,
its value is extremely low. As an ornamental
object its value is dependent on the shape
it has been fashioned, its clarity and it
antique status. Quartz is used for jewelry
and delicate bowls and to imitate diamonds.
It can be confused with many colorless gems
as well as glass. Synthetic rock crystal is
used only for industrial purposes.
Variety of: Quartz
Hardness: 7
Chemical Composition: silicon dioxide (SiO2) |
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History:
For many centuries quartz
passed for diamonds. Many of the
superstitions surrounding diamonds actually
had their beginnings in quartz. Quartz was
sacred to many ancient cultures.
Scientists believed as late as the 16th
century that quartz crystal was fossilized
ice. |
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Roman
ladies carried quartz crystal balls not only
for medicinal purposes but to cool their
hands in warm weather.
American Indian Shamans used quartz crystals
as divining and hunting charms believing
that they were inhabited by spirits, who had
to be fed periodically by rubbing the quartz
crystals with deer's blood. |
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Since the
middle ages quartz crystal balls have been
used to predict the future. But, in the tomb
of Childeric, dating back to 481 A.D, a
quartz crystal sphere was found. A number of
crystal balls have been found in a number of
ancient tombs. Crystal balls were also
placed in tombs of all the kings of France. |
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Lore:
A griffin carved of
quartz crystal produces an abundance of
milk.
It has been said that the huge stones used
in the building of Solomon's temple were
somehow levitated by the use of quartz
crystal. The stones used in building the
pyramids were somehow levitated by focusing
the mind mental energy through quartz
crystals. |
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It has also been said that
quartz can store information, somewhat like
a computer that can be accessed by holding
the crystal in hand and requesting an
instant replay. It is said to store the
history and science of ancient
civilizations.
Priests and priestesses would supposedly
draw down fire from heaven to light alter
fires by focusing sunlight through quartz
crystals. (My mother-in-law almost burned
down her house by setting a quartz crystal
sphere on black velvet in a sunny window.)
Quartz focused sunlight was also used to
cauterize wounds. |
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The Chinese Emperor Wu built
marvelous buildings to honor the gods and
all the doors of the buildings were made of
quartz crystal so that a flood of light
poured into the interior.
In Japan the smaller quartz crystals were
thought to be the congealed breath of the
white dragon. The larger crystals were said
to be the saliva of the violet dragon.
The name suisho used in Japan and China was
thought to be ice frozen so long that it
would never thaw. |
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Generator crystals are said
to have provided all the electrical power,
communications, heat, light and
transportation for whole cities in the dead
days of Atlantis and Lemuria. |
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Metaphysical:
Quartz is the most
programmable stone of the mineral kingdom.
Quartz crystal is said to be the universal
healing stone. It's like the universal blood
type. It can clarify what needs to be healed
or balanced and assist in the
transformation.
As you turn a clear quartz crystal around in
bright light you may see a rainbow inside.
These crystals promote hope, happiness and
optimism while awakening us to the beauty of
nature. |
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This is a very powerful
stone, not only for it's healing powers, but
for it's ability to balance and harmonize
our energy. This is a great stone to
meditate with to gain personal clarity.
The quartz crystal is the connection between
the physical dimension and the dimensions of
the mind. This is one of the many reasons it
has been used in crystal balls for divining
the future. Quartz is also good for astral
projection, the 7th chakra, as well as
altering consciousness. |
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Teresa's Rock of the Week, formerly Gail's Rock of the Week |
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