All about Quartz Crystals have fascinated mankind for ages. Found easily in the indigenous rocky landscape, these naturally geometric prisms and shards have captured the attention and imagination of almost every world culture. Quartz, or “rock crystal,” as it’s known in its pure state, can be found on every continent, and while many people are familiar with semi-precious stones such as amethyst, citrine, and onyx, most are unaware that these and several others are all variations of the quartz crystal. The popular crystal is composed of silicon and oxygen, the two most common elements in the Earth’s crust, and is, therefore, the second-most abundant mineral. Its beauty, toughness, and ample availability led many early cultures to embrace quartz as a material for jewelry and other objects of art. Prehistoric stone tools have been found carved from the mineral, and it was regarded by many ancient cultures as having shamanistic or religious power. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder claimed quartz was petrified ice – permanently frozen water – and this belief was widely held until the 17th century. The purest form of quartz does indeed resemble ice, colorless and transparent, its long prism faces always coming together at a perfect 60-degree angle. This variety of quartz has historically been popular for hardstone carving, with a rating of 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness (hardened steel is rated 7.5), but there are many varieties of quartz in a wide range of colors and opacities. Amethyst is a popular quartz variety, and it is found when the minerals form in an area near iron ore. The ancient Greek name for the substance was “amethustos,” which means "not drunken," in reference to the belief that the stone somehow warded off the effects of intoxication. Amethyst naturally occurs in shades ranging from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple, and it is the traditional birthstone for the month of February. Citrine is considered a birthstone for November and ranges in color from pale yellow to brown. Much “citrine” on the market is heat-treated amethyst; naturally occurring citrine is found mostly in Brazil. Sometimes citrine and amethyst will be present in the same quartz crystal, and that gemstone is called ametrine. Onyx is most famously known as a black stone, but more commonly found is banded onyx, with alternating color rings of black, white, and, sometimes, varying shades of reds and browns. The evenly occurring color bands in this variety of quartz made the stone popular for cameo carving, as the foreground relief could be in stark contrast to the background color of the layer below. But, even in the ancient world, pure black onyx was preferred, and Pliny the Elder described techniques employed in his time by those who wished to mimic the pure black effect by dyeing or chemically treating the banded varieties. In some rare instances, natural gold veins are found within white quartz. This is the most valuable and interesting form quartz can take, and is prized by jewelers and collectors. The opaque white of the “milky quartz” variety is most sought-after, and makes for a
striking jewelry piece that features the natural beauty of pure gold contrasting with the white mineral. All of these varieties of quartz can be found in fine jewelry today. Semi-precious stones are more affordable than their less-abundant precious gem cousins, and the variety of color and texture make them an excellent choice for a focal-point accessory. Some fine jewelry retailers, such as Alaska Jewelry maintain an impressive gallery of natural gold in quartz pieces and would be happy to advise on the purchasing of jewelry as a gift. All the varieties of quartz have a rich and fascinating history, and would make a fine addition to any collection.