Quartz crystals are transparent to translucent silicate minerals with unique crystalline structures. Impurities within their surface create different colors and properties which make each specimen of quartz special.

Quartz is a piezoelectric material, meaning its frequency oscillates when subjected to mechanical strain. This oscillation frequency can then be monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM).

Physical Properties

Quartz crystals exhibit several peculiar physical characteristics which distinguish it from other solid materials (such as plastic, wood, concrete and glass) but which cannot be found among liquids. Quartz demonstrates strong anisotropy; that is, it behaves differently depending on which direction its stresses come from; homogenously formed quartz crystals do not show a predictable way to break apart or part; instead they break unexpectedly – one reason it can be challenging to extract quartz from vugs and pockets without fragmentation.

Quartz is an extremely hard mineral with a Vickers hardness of around 1181 kg/mm2. However, due to some birefringence in its structure it may feel slightly softer in certain directions.

Birefringence occurs when light passes through a material with transparent properties and divides into two rays with different polarization, but equal intensity. An example would be placing a crystal on top of newspaper text; this can result in doubled letters on its pages.

Healing Properties

Clear quartz is widely recognized as an adept healer, believed to amplify energies while purifying and balancing physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. It may also aid concentration and memory recall – making it the ideal stone of the crown chakra that opens us up to new opportunities while strengthening connections to higher forms of consciousness.

Quartz crystal formation is heavily affected by geological factors, including temperature and pressure. Over time, silicon and oxygen atoms bond together to form tetrahedral crystal structures; any impurities introduced during this stage create unique types of quartz crystals with unique colors and traits.

Smoky quartz, with its earthy tones, is an earth-nourishing stone used to help release old energy patterns and combat electromagnetic smog, radiation and stress. Shaman quartz (sometimes referred to as lodolite ) features minerals like chlorite and hematite which give each piece its unique landscape appearance – perfect for grounding yourself during emotional upheavals while purifying the lungs, digestive tract and relieving anxiety.

Colors

Quartz crystals exhibit a diverse palette of natural hues, from the deep purples of amethyst to golden yellow citrine. Their variations result from distinct environmental factors affecting their formation – temperature, pressure and mineral inclusions being among them.

Chrysoprase (a microcrystalline variety of quartz) gets its vibrant apple green hue from nickel inclusions within its crystal lattice, while reddish orange hues of carnelian come from hematite trace elements present in chalcedony that create reddish orange tones reminiscent of carnelian, an important decorative stone.

Inclusions give quartz an array of beautiful variations. Tiger’s eye (also referred to as bull’s eye) is formed when quartz replaces crocidolite through pseudomorphism; this results in the preservation of parallel fibers of amphibole while leaving behind its iron oxides; through this same process arises rare blue varieties like Hawk’s Eye that feature distinct iron oxide composition. Such variations often feature in spaces designed for relaxation or spiritual connection.

Shapes

Crystal growth often deviates from ideal regular geometry and takes on irregular or non-ideal forms, creating odd-shaped crystals like quartz. Here, crystal lattices displace and form various patterns on prism faces due to quick crystal growth – as seen here with this smoky quartz from Namibia’s Usingen mine and similar citrine specimens containing large rhombohedral crystal faces that developed characteristic patterns.

Under certain conditions, crystals may form “fadens”. These areas do not grow at all due to being covered with material that impedes further crystal development – such as fluid or gas inclusions. As time progresses, however, these “phantoms” become “filled in” by second-generation crystal layers which develop along their c-axis (ie fastest crystal growth direction).

This cinnamon colored smoky quartz hails from Turbenalp, Binntal, Wallis Switzerland. The kidney-shaped indentations on its large rhombohedral faces are not damage but rather characteristic skeleton growth surface patterns.