Characteristics of Quartz
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Characteristics of Quartz:
Chemical Name: Silicon dioxide
Formula: SiO2
Colors: All colors
Structure: Trigonal
Hardness: 7
Specific Gravity: 2.65
Refractive Index: 1.54-1.55
Lustre: Vitreous
Streak: White
Locations: Brazil, Scotland, Spain, France, Swiss Alps, Russia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar
What is Quartz?
Quartz is the third most common mineral on the Earth’s crust, after ice and feldspar. Of all minerals, it has the greatest number of gem varieties, including prized gems such as amethyst, chalcedony, and agate. Quartz comes in two basic forms: crystalline (as distinct crystals), and cryptocrystalline (formed of microscopic crystalline particles). The optical and electrical properties of colorless, transparent Quartz have led to its extensive use in lenses and prisms, and as oscillators for electronic devices such as watches.
Stone of Wonder
The word Quartz comes from old German and first appears in the writings of Georgius Agricola in 1530. However long before this, Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed Quartz to be ice that had been permanently frozen after great lengths of time, his evidence being that Quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but non on volcanic mountains. Egg-sized, white Quartz pebbles are found in Bronze-Age toms in Europe, and in early Christian churches and chapels in Ireland and the north of England. Even now, rock crystal – transparent, colorless Quartz – is commonly regarded in shamanistic practice as a “light-stone”, an instrument of clairvoyance between visible and invisible. Australian Aborigines used rock crystal both as talisman and to produce visions, while the Navajo believed that it first caused the Sun to cast its light upon the world.