Quartz Page

Name:

Quartz

Chem:

SiO2 -
Silicon Dioxide

Crystal:

Hexagonal (excellent hexagonal prisms with termination, also massive, and crypto-crystalline varieties)

Color:

purple
amethyst

pink
rose

yellow - orange
citrene

clear
rock
crystal

gray-brown
cairngorm

crypto-
crystalline
agate
jasper

Refrac. Index:

1.54 - 1.55

Birefraction:

0.009

Hardness:

7.0

Spec. Grav.:

2.65

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

none

Environment:

a rock forming mineral, contact metamorphics, hydrothermal, mesothermal, and epithermal veins

Association:

feldspars, pyrite, tourmaline, rutile

Locals:

| Largest crystals, Brazil | found virtually everywhere | Ark., USA |

Misc:

The name is derived from the German "quarz" of Slavic origin. It was called "krystallos" by the Greeks, but this later became the generic term for crystal. It is used as an oscillator in time pieces and in radio, and was mined extensively in brazil during W.W.II. The material has now been synthesized in the laboratory and is much purer and better for electronic use.

Gem info:

Quartz is the most abundant mineral on earth and is present in many rock types. It is classified by both color and physical makeup. First there are two physical types:
1.) crystalline (natural and synthetic)
2.)cryptocrystalline

Crystalline: meaning large single crystals of aggregates of individual crystals. Having the hexagonal shape or habitat of the mineral. (Rose quartz is a minor exception as it rarely forms good crystals.)

Amethyst: lilac or purple quartz gets its color from an iron impurity (Fe+3), it is the most valuable of the quartz gem stones. The best quality is dark purple with a red-flash. At one time it was one of the most expensive stones on earth, but with the huge finds in the new world (especially Brazil) the price plummeted.
Citrene: yellow to orange in color, citrene gets its color from an iron impurity too, and heating amethyst to 550 degrees centigrade converts it to citrene. Subjecting citrene to radiation can re-convert it to amethyst. Heat treated stones tend to have a red-tint. It is sometimes passed off as a form of topaz being called "bahia-topaz" , "golden topaz" or "Madeira topaz". All of these materials a quartz and NOT topaz. Citrene is typically not as expensive as amethyst, so is usually very inexpensive.

Smoky Quartz: smoky quartz gets its color from irradiated impurities which have a smoky area around them. The term "cairngorm" is used to describe the variety found in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. It is very inexpensive in cut stones, less than $1 per carat.

Rose Quartz: this is one of the more rare types of crystalline quartz, it is usually somewhat cloudy due to the inclusion of rutile crystals. Large cut stones are rare, and even small ones tend to be cloudy looking. It tends to have more value as a carving material.

Cryptocrystalline: masses made up of either fibrous or granular aggregates of quartz. Both are tough and compact, and take a good polish when cabbed.
Chalcedony: the general term used to describe the fibrous variety of cryptocrystalline quartz.

Agate: usually a banded material that is translucent and may contain any number of colors or combinations. It may also include members that are non-banded, but contain dendrites in the form of moss or other organic-like structures.
Carnelian and Sard: are solid colored, but translucent chalcedony that are in the red to brown end of the spectrum
Aventurine : A greenish quartz with fuchite mica or other metallic looking inclusions that make the material "sparkle".
Bloodstone : Also known as heliotrope or plasma, is an opaque green chalcedony with red iron oxide inclusions that resemble blood.
Chrysophrase: a green variety of chalcedony colored by the element nickel. The best material is now coming from Australia.
Onyx: a variety of agate with parallel bands of color that are linear and not in the form of curves. (There is a variety of marble that is sometimes called onyx, but is much softer and easily damaged by acid.)

Jasper, Flint, and Chert are names used to describe some of the varieties of granular quartz.

Jasper: it is the granular counterpart of carnelian and sard, and is usually brown, red, yellow, and may have inclusions of metal oxides. The name derived from the Greek and means "spotted stone". Sometimes as parallel lines rather than spots. Several varieties can create what looks like miniature landscape scenes and are often referred to as "picture jaspers".
Flint and Chert: non-gem varieties of cryptocrystalline-granular quartz. They chip very easily and thus can be made to hold and edge. Used mainly in the manufacture of arrow heads and stone knives.

amethyst

amethyst2

amethyst3

citrene

citrene2

carv-citrene

carv-citrene2

smoky
quartz w/ tourmaline shield
quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup)
quartz w/ tourmaline rect.
quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup)
quartz w/ tourmaline pear
quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup)
quartz points w/ rutile

quartz points w/ rutile(closeup)
quartz points w/ rutile(closeup)
quartz w/ dendrites
quartz w/ dendrites (close)
quartz w/ dendrites (close)
ametrene
ametrene2

agate banded
moss agate
fire agate
fire agate 1
fire agate 2
fire agate 3
fire agate 4

Aventurine
Aventurine (closeup)
Bloodstone
Bloodstone(closeup)
Carnelian
Rainbow Obsidian
Brueno Jasper
Onyx
Sardonyx


Name:	Quartz
Chem:	SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide
Crystal:	Hexagonal (excellent hexagonal prisms with termination, also massive, and crypto-crystalline varieties)
Color:	purple amethyst pink rose	yellow - orange citrene	clear rock crystal	gray-brown cairngorm	crypto- crystalline agate jasper
Refrac. Index:	1.54 - 1.55		Birefraction:		0.009
Hardness:	7.0		Spec. Grav.:		2.65
Fracture:	conchoidal		Cleavage:		none
Environment:	a rock forming mineral, contact metamorphics, hydrothermal, mesothermal, and epithermal veins
Association:	feldspars, pyrite, tourmaline, rutile
Locals:	\| Largest crystals, Brazil \| found virtually everywhere \| Ark., USA \|
Misc:	The name is derived from the German "quarz" of Slavic origin. It was called "krystallos" by the Greeks, but this later became the generic term for crystal. It is used as an oscillator in time pieces and in radio, and was mined extensively in brazil during W.W.II. The material has now been synthesized in the laboratory and is much purer and better for electronic use.
Gem info:	Quartz is the most abundant mineral on earth and is present in many rock types. It is classified by both color and physical makeup. First there are two physical types: 1.) crystalline (natural and synthetic) 2.)cryptocrystalline Crystalline: meaning large single crystals of aggregates of individual crystals. Having the hexagonal shape or habitat of the mineral. (Rose quartz is a minor exception as it rarely forms good crystals.) Amethyst: lilac or purple quartz gets its color from an iron impurity (Fe+3), it is the most valuable of the quartz gem stones. The best quality is dark purple with a red-flash. At one time it was one of the most expensive stones on earth, but with the huge finds in the new world (especially Brazil) the price plummeted. Citrene: yellow to orange in color, citrene gets its color from an iron impurity too, and heating amethyst to 550 degrees centigrade converts it to citrene. Subjecting citrene to radiation can re-convert it to amethyst. Heat treated stones tend to have a red-tint. It is sometimes passed off as a form of topaz being called "bahia-topaz" , "golden topaz" or "Madeira topaz". All of these materials a quartz and NOT topaz. Citrene is typically not as expensive as amethyst, so is usually very inexpensive. Smoky Quartz: smoky quartz gets its color from irradiated impurities which have a smoky area around them. The term "cairngorm" is used to describe the variety found in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. It is very inexpensive in cut stones, less than $1 per carat. Rose Quartz: this is one of the more rare types of crystalline quartz, it is usually somewhat cloudy due to the inclusion of rutile crystals. Large cut stones are rare, and even small ones tend to be cloudy looking. It tends to have more value as a carving material. Cryptocrystalline: masses made up of either fibrous or granular aggregates of quartz. Both are tough and compact, and take a good polish when cabbed. Chalcedony: the general term used to describe the fibrous variety of cryptocrystalline quartz. Agate: usually a banded material that is translucent and may contain any number of colors or combinations. It may also include members that are non-banded, but contain dendrites in the form of moss or other organic-like structures. Carnelian and Sard: are solid colored, but translucent chalcedony that are in the red to brown end of the spectrum Aventurine : A greenish quartz with fuchite mica or other metallic looking inclusions that make the material "sparkle". Bloodstone : Also known as heliotrope or plasma, is an opaque green chalcedony with red iron oxide inclusions that resemble blood. Chrysophrase: a green variety of chalcedony colored by the element nickel. The best material is now coming from Australia. Onyx: a variety of agate with parallel bands of color that are linear and not in the form of curves. (There is a variety of marble that is sometimes called onyx, but is much softer and easily damaged by acid.) Jasper, Flint, and Chert are names used to describe some of the varieties of granular quartz. Jasper: it is the granular counterpart of carnelian and sard, and is usually brown, red, yellow, and may have inclusions of metal oxides. The name derived from the Greek and means "spotted stone". Sometimes as parallel lines rather than spots. Several varieties can create what looks like miniature landscape scenes and are often referred to as "picture jaspers". Flint and Chert: non-gem varieties of cryptocrystalline-granular quartz. They chip very easily and thus can be made to hold and edge. Used mainly in the manufacture of arrow heads and stone knives.
amethyst	amethyst2	amethyst3	citrene	citrene2	carv-citrene	carv-citrene2
smoky quartz w/ tourmaline shield quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup) quartz w/ tourmaline rect. quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup) quartz w/ tourmaline pear quartz w/ tourmaline(closeup) quartz points w/ rutile		quartz points w/ rutile(closeup) quartz points w/ rutile(closeup) quartz w/ dendrites quartz w/ dendrites (close) quartz w/ dendrites (close) ametrene ametrene2			agate banded moss agate fire agate fire agate 1 fire agate 2 fire agate 3 fire agate 4	Aventurine Aventurine (closeup) Bloodstone Bloodstone(closeup) Carnelian Rainbow Obsidian Brueno Jasper Onyx Sardonyx