[Jewelry making - Article 00136] - [Orchid] GemBits - Facets of Quartz

[Sandra I. Smith]

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    Quartz, the most abundant mineral, is also one of the most diverse
    minerals known. It's found in a rainbow of colors, and ranges from
    shimmering transparency to impenetrable opacity. Rock crystal,
    amethyst, and rose quartz are the most familiar varieties of quartz. 

    Like many minerals, quartz is colorless in its pure state. Colorless
    quartz is often called rock crystal, or crystal, and it is the
    substance from which crystal balls are made. (If you're buying a
    crystal ball today, however, be advised that it is most likely made
    from plastic or glass.) 

    Crystal gets its name from the Greek word for ice, as they believed
    it was water frozen so hard that it could never be thawed. 

    Those who attribute mystical properties to gemstones believe that
    crystal symbolizes the spirit of human beings. They use it
    extensively in healing and magic rituals. Placing a quartz crystal
    under your pillow is said to provide a good night's sleep, as well
    as aid in getting answers to psychic questions via dreams. Quartz
    crystals are also worn to relieve headaches. 

    Trace amounts of iron and manganese in clear quartz produce
    amethyst, with all its glorious shades of purple. Color in amethyst
    ranges from pale lavender shades known as Rose de France to the rich
    reddish-purple hues of Siberian amethyst. 

    Amethyst is rich in folklore, particularly regarding the source of
    its color. Legends speak of the wine god Bacchus, who, when annoyed
    one evening, threatened to turn his tigers loose upon the next
    mortal he saw. Minutes later, the lovely Greek maiden, Amethyst,
    whose name means "not drunken," passed by on her way to worship at
    the shrine of Diana. To protect Amethyst, Diana turned her into a
    pure white stone. A remorseful Bacchus poured wine over the stone,
    staining it purple. 

    Many believed this gave amethyst the power to protect its wearers
    from intoxication, and they drank their wine from goblets made of
    amethyst. One cynical historian suspects that the purple color of
    the goblets simply disguised the fact that servants watered down the
    wine. 

    Those who attribute powers to gemstones believe that wearing
    amethyst lifts the spirits and makes the wearer calm and at peace.
    It also increases courage and good judgment. Placing amethyst under
    a pillow banishes nightmares and improves memory. Amethyst is rare
    among gemstones in that no negative powers are associated with it,
    giving it the sobriquet "gemstone of peace." 

    People have adorned themselves with amethyst for at least 5000
    years. The crown jewels of several countries include amethyst, and
    it was also used for bishop's rings. 

    Very closely related to amethyst is citrine, a clear yellow to
    brownish-yellow gemstone. Citrine is simply amethyst which has been
    heated. Although natural citrine occurs, most of the citrine on the
    market today is artificially heat-treated. A lovely gem, valuable in
    its own right, citrine is often misleadingly marketed as topaz. 

    Ametrine is amethyst and citrine combined in one stone. Titanium
    gives clear quartz the soft translucent colors found in rose quartz.
    An inexpensive gemstone, rose quartz is often carved into tiny
    crosses or hearts. 

    Folklorists and magicians classify rose quartz as a "receptive"
    stone. Receptive stones are credited with the ability to attract
    positive qualities, like peace and love, to their wearer. 

    Wearers of rose quartz trust it to mend broken hearts and relieve
    other kinds of emotional pain. They also rely on it to enhance
    self-acceptance and encourage forgiveness. Some believe that rose
    quartz's ability to draw calmness to them helps reduce high blood
    pressure. But of all its assumed powers, its reputation for
    attracting love is what has made rose quartz treasured through the
    ages. 

    Smoky quartz, a translucent brown gem, gets it rich color from
    aluminum. Like citrine, it is often misleadingly sold as topaz.
    Cairngorm quartz is a very dark reddish-brown quartz named after its
    source in Scotland. 

    Rutilated quartz is rock crystal containing tiny golden needles of
    the mineral rutile (Venus hair). Other forms of rutile can make
    quartz look milky, or turn it into star stones. 

    Prehistoric humans were the first to use quartz--the flint from
    which the first tools were fashioned is a variety of quartz. 

    Agate, aventurine, carnelian, chrysocolla, and jasper are also
    regarded as varieties of quartz by many mineralogists. These
    varieties are usually opaque, as the crystals from which they're
    formed are microscopic. The more familiar quartzes, like amethyst,
    have large, distinct crystals. Petrified wood and petrified dinosaur
    bone are formed when quartz replaces the original wood or bone
    cells. 

    A compound of silicon dioxide, with a Mohs hardness of 7, quartz
    also has many industrial uses, especially in electronic and optical
    equipment. Sandpaper is made from powdered quartz. It's also used in
    the manufacture of glass and ceramics. 

    Not only is quartz found world-wide in one form or another, it's
    also found in meteorites and in the moon rocks. 

    Whether you wear it as jewelry or put it to work for you, look to
    the quartz family for unsurpassed variety. Its abundance makes it
    affordable and easy for everyone to own and enjoy. 


****Sandra I. Smith, Writer ****









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