Quartz: what does a stone look like and what properties does it have?

In the depths of our planet there is a huge amount of minerals, which are often based on quartz. Ornamental as well as semi-precious gems are varieties of quartz. This “worker” has become accustomed to the role of a magic and healing stone, although it is wrong to speak of it in general: each type of quartz has its own name, external features and properties.

Quartz is the parent rock of planetary materials. The fact that this nugget can be found in many places, says the fact that it occupies 60% of the Earth's lithosphere. The stone was known to our ancestors around the world - evidenced by the artifacts associated with the culture of the Celts and Saxons, Hindus and Japanese. But the description of a stone is not a complete chemical study, because it has become available to people relatively recently. A modern chemical study of quartz stone has shown that most of the gems found belong to it.

Previously, people by this word meant only colorless or nuggets painted very faded. The value of the stone was appreciated by the alchemists, they gave it a lot of magical properties. Other minerals, though related to quartz, were considered by people to be independent stones. Kinship rocks managed to find many centuries later. Nowadays, chemical studies can give a thorough answer about the origin of the stone, its properties, its age.

Today, man does not just know what quartz looks like. His physical characteristic also had a great importance: the stone was used for optical constructions of equipment, it also became a generator of sound and electromagnetic waves in piezoelectric devices. Finally, Quartz is also useful for humans because it is used in glass production, it is indispensable in the manufacture of fire-fighting materials.

In the XVI century, vessels of different shapes of stone were, as they would say today, at the height of fashion. Decorated with gold, emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Nero, that same legendary ancient Greek emperor, had a special passion for transparent quartz. And in the tomb of no less famous Tutankhamen a unique thing was found: it looked like sunglasses for sun protection, and the Egyptian craftsmen made them from morion, black quartz (translucent).

In the last century, mankind learned how to grow a quartz crystal. Synthetic stone acquired new properties: a man managed to grow a stone of optimal size, shape, symmetry. And, as already noted, the quartz used in the manufacture of high-precision instruments must be improved. And synthetic methods help in this. Finally, an artificial mineral is valuable in jewelry. Masters can grow crystals of such shades that cannot be found in nature.

If you decide to get carried away with stones, and you are attracted to mineralogy or lithotherapy, then one of the first stones to be studied will be quartz. Unique in this nugget really a lot.

There is quartz on our planet everywhere. Mining his career way or manually. The nugget lies in dolomites, placer rocks, limestone. Mountains and plains, river deltas and the shores of the seas are all possible geolocation of quartz. For industry, monomineralic quartz sand is of particular value.

Among the world's leading countries in the location of quartz can be identified Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, Uruguay, Madagascar, Kazakhstan. There are several large quartzite mining areas on Russian territory: Chukotka and Kamchatka, Yakutia, the Urals.

The value of the mineral depends on its shade. Yes, perhaps this is a subjective characteristic, but so does the demand. Color solves a lot, because some types of nugget are more popular, others less. There has long been a strictly built scale of the most and least valuable quartz rocks. We describe some of them.

• Rhinestone. There is such a film with Sylvester Stallone, and the viewer likes it only with one title, romantic and beautiful. Rock crystal is different from all other types of quartz - mainly by its transparency and shine.

• Morion. The same stone that served as the basis for the pharaoh's sunglasses. The mineral has a rich black color. It can be as transparent as opaque.

• Volosatik. This nugget got the name of the speaker because of its rare, even extravagant appearance. In this translucent rock crystal there are fine-needle crystals of other nuggets. Rutile and tourmaline threads look really like needles, thin hairs.

• Prase. So called green quartz. In its formula there is actinolite and other minerals, and this is the reason for the emerald hue.

• Rose quartz. Semiprecious stone. In the East, this nugget is called the “stone of the heart”, saying that contemplation of a nugget alone fills the heart of the one who sees it with love.

• Rauchtopaz. Another name - smoky quartz. This is a very transparent quartz with a non-standard shade. The color range is from gray-smoky to deep-brown. Gray color prevails.

• Amethyst. The most valuable representative of quartz, it is a precious (not semi-precious, like many others) stone. The most common color of amethyst is purple. You can see the stones with a purple-pink or purple-red shade.

• Citrine. Another popular quartz nugget. It is sometimes called the "yellow diamond." This, of course, is not a diamond, but golden, lemon shades combined with shine give an impressive aesthetic effect.

• Rauchtsitrin. It is a mixture of citrine and rauchtopaz. Its play is very beautiful, brown and yellow shades unusually brightly combined.

• Cat's eye. He is also considered a delight for an esthete: the stone may be pinkish, gray or white. And most importantly in it - the amazing beauty of the light ebb.

• Ametrine. Rare quartz mineral. Its coloring is very unexpected - purple-lilac color is diluted with yellow.

These were descriptions of crystalline quartz. But there is still a cryptocrystalline quartz, which is also rich in its representatives. For example, translucent chalcedony, - both white and honey shades will not leave an esthete indifferent. Agat - This is a kind of chalcedony, and agate is original in that it is distinguished by its original layered-banded structure.

It looks interesting and chrysolite: the stone is transparent, yellowish or greenish. There are representatives of more faded, and there are saturated. A fragile kind of mineral is aventurine. Special makes this stone interspersed with iron mica. Known to many cornelian - It is red or rose quartz, which has a unique radiance.

No less popular is onyx. Its color is brown, but it can be diluted with black or white patterns. Sometimes it includes plane-parallel layers of honey-honey, pink, brown color. No less beautiful and sapphirine - blue-tinted quartz with a coarse-grained structure.

In jewelry, many quartz varieties look fascinatingly beautiful.Masters give them a special faceting, and if it is a precious metal, the product will definitely be expensive for the owner. Here it is worth mentioning those qualities that the owner himself will endow quartz. Someone will limit himself to admiring its modulations and the intertwining of shades, someone will be waiting for the action of a special energy. No scientific data will convince the latter in some exaggeration of these magical and healing properties.

And sometimes it is not necessary to persuade. Talismans and amulets, according to many experts, work on the placebo effect. And if wearing a rose quartz ring helps someone in his personal life, that's fine. Installation worked, the result is, and this is important.

Quartz is a mineral from the class of oxides. As already noted, this is the most common earth nugget.

The physical properties of quartz look like this:

• the brilliance of the stone is glassy, ​​greasy in a fracture;
• no cleavage;
• fracture of the nugget is crayfish;
• crystals have the shape of a hexagonal prism, which is accompanied by a pyramid-cap;
• crystal faces covered with cross-hatching;
• ingrown or grown crystals;
• the color of the line is white;
• may contain inclusions - more often these are gases and liquids that are visualized by bubbles;
• the hardness of the stone is large - it will leave a scratch on the glass;
• insoluble in acids;
• refers to glass-forming oxides;
• has a number of polymorphic modifications;
• often forms twins;
• the radioactivity of the stone is 0;
• the melting point is difficult due to the high viscosity, is approximately 1728 degrees;
• magnetism is not;
• measured density - 2.65 g / cm3.

Since there are a lot of types of quartz, it’s almost impossible to determine their magical and healing properties in a generalized way - this will be a very approximate characteristic. Each stone of quartz origin is unique. But to the so-called pure quartz, the closest nuggets are light shades and colorless.

The main therapeutic zone of action of the mineral are the nervous system, skin, respiratory organs.. Moreover, the treatment called water infused on quartz. The nugget should be placed in a container with water for a day, then the resulting infusion is filtered. The tool is used for therapeutic baths and baths.

Attributed to stone and magical properties. In ancient times, the mineral was actively used in various kinds of rituals. Those same crystal balls, associated by many with magic and rituals, were made of rock crystal. From it, the lenses were previously made, which were used by the clergy in ancient temples to light the sacred fire.

The structure of the use of quartz in magic:

• rhinestone - A mineral that helps develop extrasensory perception in a person;

• tourmaline quartz - a stone that cleans the soul from the effects of personal dramas, as well as a mineral that accumulates negative energy, releasing a person from it;

• muddy colored milk crystals (there are plenty of such representatives of quartz) allow a person to plunge into himself - if a period of calm and reflection is needed, this is a good option;

• cornelian associated with love magic, the owners of this stone, if you believe such a theory, it is easier to find a lover - an intuition appears that helps to identify "your person";

• everything quartz minerals, having smoky colors, will suit managers: they charge leadership with energy, help to plan, to separate the most important from the secondary, to concentrate on the main goal.

Silver is considered a good frame for quartz. This union is remarkable for that silver enhances the properties of quartz and vice versa. If such an amulet is given to you by a person who truly loves you, he will help you. The stone is capable of uncovering talents that you might not have suspected until now. Also amulets with quartz in a silver frame are often presented to girls who go to live in another city or country.

Believing in such a power of stone is a personal matter. People who prefer to approach everything from a scientific point of view are quite skeptical about the properties of the stone of a healing and magical nature. But among those who believe in the power of a mineral, there are many people with mathematical, chemical, and biological education. Not everything can be decomposed into hypotheses and evidence, there are just observations that make it possible to argue at the level of intuition, foreboding.

Mineral has found a use in a variety of areas. Probably everyone knows how quartz is used in the lighting industry. If you have seen quartz pipes, then imagine what one of the minerals looks like. Bactericidal lamps are in medical institutions, and when the chamber is closed for quartz treatment, this means that the time has come for a special procedure.

Quartz air in the room allows you to deal with colds, helps in the treatment of certain dermatological diseases. Quartzing can also disinfect food. In dentistry, quartz is also used for the rehabilitation of the oral cavity, some medical procedures.

Well proved in the cosmetology sphere rock crystal. Many known anti-aging remedies contain quartz microparticles in their composition. But since branded products can not buy everything, there is an alternative to cheaper - You can use quartz water for washing.

Water that insists on quartz for a couple of days can be compared with liquid from the cleanest mountain springs, with melted glacier water. They cook food on it and just drink it (but don't get carried away).

Consider where else quartz is used.

• In electronics. Generators and resonators are made using quartz in this area. Also used as a stabilizer of the frequency grid in the phones. Used nugget and in watchmaking. According to some indicators, quartz watches are superior to mechanical ones.

• Household. As a decorative material, quartz is used in the manufacture of tableware and some interior elements. In the ceramic industry it is also often used to supplement.

• Jewelery. Earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants - quartz is actively used by jewelers, as the stone literally asks into the hands of the master. As already noted, silver is an excellent partner for the mineral. In his "chains" the aesthetic properties of the stone are revealed to the maximum.

• Building. In this area, the use of quartz - this is the raw material for silicate blocks, and cement and concrete solutions, and the addition of quartz sand in building mixtures.

• Dentistry Quartz is used to make porcelain crowns.

It is difficult to quickly describe all the areas where this particular mineral is used. It is included in the composition of the mercury devices, it produces devices that do not transmit UV radiation, and also make parts for high-tech medical equipment from quartz.

You may have a quartz box in your home, lotion with the inclusion of quartz chips on the shelf with cosmetics, a quartz watch on your hands, and onyx pendant on your chest. This suggests that even if we had previously heard little about quartz and have little idea what it is, we meet with this mineral quite often.

Quartz has too many varieties to strictly answer the question of who this stone is for. For example, if we are talking about rock crystal, then it is more often chosen by Leo, Taurus, Pisces and Libra - these signs help the mineral to find spiritual harmony, find tranquility, relieve irritability and rid it of impulsive actions.

Smoky crystals (rauchtopaz) will become a powerful talisman for Scorpios - it is believed that these nuggets are able to restrain passionate natures who can resentfully resent, say what they wouldn’t be worth talking about. Citrine is a gem more suitable for Gemini, it enhances intuitive abilities, helps in solving financial problems. There are other important points to consider.

• Rhinestone - one of the most powerful conductors of energy. Therefore, this stone is suitable for those who seriously decided to engage in the development of their own extrasensory perception. If you notice that your predictions and dreams tend to come true, amulets and other jewelry made of rock crystal will strengthen these abilities.
• Milky, white quartz suitable for those people who are going to strengthen contact with the inner world. Lovers of meditation take these stones with them for rituals. They help to get away from the hustle and bustle, allow you to remain in silence, peace, concentration even in the very center of the metropolis, in a noisy street or in the office.
• Cornelian suitable for those who intend to part with the bachelor life. You do not need to pin all hopes only on him, but it is believed that the stone attracts people close to you in the aspect of personal relationships. There is an opinion that carnelian, like a conductor of love and sensuality, will attract people with the psycho type you need. In this sense, we can say that the quartz mineral works as a filter.
• Amethysts it makes sense to wear people temperamental, explosive. They calm the owner, cool his ardor, bring a sensible amount of prudence, unhurried conclusions into actions.
• Snow quartz suitable for leaders, those who constantly need to "pump" business acumen and initiative, the ability to be above the situation.

It’s impossible to say that a mineral may not suit someone at all. It is a neutral stone in this sense. Just remember that there are a lot of varieties of it, carefully read the specifications.

Caring for a mineral is not very difficult. If you do everything meticulously and according to the rules, you can purchase a special tool in the jewelry store. This is a balanced composition, which from time to time you need to wipe the decoration.

Soap solution is what will suit many types of quartz. For example, a rose quartz loved by women is washed well in a soap solution, but if you do not wash it very well under cold water, a film will remain on the stone, due to which the nugget will fade. Rinse the stone preferably with filtered water.

Initially, the mineral does not need soap baths. Once a week, place a stone under a stream of warm (not hot!) Water, dry it, this will be enough. All soap manipulations are necessary for old stones that need additional cleaning. There is another option: the same rose quartz can be buried in table salt, and held there for several hours.

Try to treat stones as a wonderful brainchild of nature. You should not give them magic and bring upon themselves the burden of expectations and possible disappointments. Calm and prudence will not harm in this matter.

About what properties quartz has, see the following video.