Quartz crystals form the backbone of our electronic world. Every computer clock and wristwatch synchronize with one, ticking billions of times every second to ensure commands reach their destinations on schedule.

Quartz crystals feature trigonal symmetry and belong to the P3221 point group of crystallography. Their crystals have an extremely high resonant frequency which increases with temperature.

Geometry

As soon as crystallographers started studying the internal geometry of quartz crystals, they focused on angles – the distance between adjacent corners of two adjacent rhombohedra – as a key concept in understanding their internal geometry. By mapping sphere of faces onto plane using this concept – a technique known as stereographic projection.

Researchers then established that a crystal’s geometry could either be left- or right-handed, determined by its elementary unit of three SiO4 tetrahedra. A left-handed quartz structure features a hook which runs clockwise; for right-handed structures it has one running counterclockwise.

Crystal points typically feature diamond-shaped s faces; however, some crystals also display what are known as Isis faces – five sides resembling an inverted triangle without its base point cut off – like in this second image showing one with an unusual form such as trigonal bipyramids – an extremely rare find on quartz; for Cumberland habits with smaller or nonexistent m-faces altogether.

Piezoelectricity

Piezoelectricity refers to the reversible ability of certain materials to convert mechanical pressure into electrical energy and vice versa, or switch in either direction. Quartz crystal is one of many examples that exhibit piezoelectric properties; when subjected to stresses such as torsion, compressional, shear or shape variation it produces an electric potential across both electrodes of its crystal lattice that results in this effect due to displacement of ions within its lattice structure.

A quartz crystal can be made to oscillate at any frequency – for instance 9 MHz AT-cut – by applying either series or parallel capacitances to it. When operated in series mode, its element operates with lower impedance than when in parallel mode; this can help pull its resonant frequency higher from its quoted value when coupled with external series capacitances; this operation mode is commonly seen in speakers and quartz watches, for instance.

Stability

Quartz crystals are highly stable materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations without degradation, helping electronic devices operate at their intended rates without an increase in electricity consumption or carbon emissions. Quartz’s frequency-stabilizing qualities also enable electronic devices to continue functioning effectively under stress from high voltages – all helping reduce electricity use and carbon emissions.

Quartz’s durability stems from its physical-chemical properties. It does not react with most acids (except hydrogen fluoride and concentrated phosphoric acid corroding slowly into it ), and has excellent resistance to salt water corrosion.

Amethyst, smoky quartz, rose quartz and citrine are some of the crystalline varieties of quartz found in nature, which take their colors from impurities such as iron, magnesium and other elements present in them. Quartz can also be found as part of agate masses formed when silica filled pore spaces in metamorphic rocks or igneous rock before being released onto gravel beaches for rolling around freely.

Reliability

Quartz is an extremely resilient gemstone. As one of the most stable minerals, quartz can withstand significant levels of compression without shattering, making it ideal for creating stone countertops and other long-lasting materials.

Quartz crystals are prized for both their physical and metaphysical healing properties, from stunningly clear quartz to mysterious smoky quartz and the elegant rose quartz variety – each has long mesmerized people around the world for centuries.

Quartz is an ubiquitous mineral, found on every continent and nearly every geological environment. It often occurs with potassium feldspars and muscovite in igneous rocks and pegmatites; sedimentary and metamorphic rock types also contain quartz deposits. Common varieties of this stone include amethyst, citrine and chalcedony gemstones that often feature fibrous inclusions giving their surface an “aurodorescence”-type shimmer that creates shimmery effects known as aventurescence.