Quartz

The most common mineral on Earth is the quartz and makes up to 10% of its crust. It is widespread and can be found in almost any kind of geological environment. Similar to rubies, quartz crystals are often evaluated on the presence of rutiles which when viewed in a light can almost look very similar to gold fibres or threads. Quartz is slightly softer than topaz on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. Quartz is from a lattice of silica which qualifies it as a crystal. Pure quartz is white but there are coloured varieties such as rose quartz, smoky quartz and milky quartz.

Shining Quartz

Not all quartz is natural since it can also be manufactured. Synthetic quartz is preferred when used in industry because naturally-occurring ones have twinning which is an intergrowth of two separate crystals. A variety of quartz that has iron impurities is citrine which is the result when amethyst is artificially heated to a high temperature. Synthetic quartz is made most of silicon dioxide or an atom of silicon mixed with two atoms of oxygen. Early historians and mineralogists thought erroneously that quartz is a form of water ice permanently formed in glaciers over long periods of time. Quartz is a birthstone for the month of November. Many people believe that it has healing qualities and can also enhance physical prowess and ward off evil.

Quartz Stones

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