Through the ages men have treasured quartz, wearing it in many forms for the beauty it offers and for the power it possesses.
Although quartz makes up nearly 25% if the earth's surface, there are only three known places in the world that have enough high quality crystal to warrant mining. These are Brazil, Madagascar (a small island off the coast of Africa) and the Ouachita Mountain range of Arkansas.
Quartz has become the leading mineral extracted from the Ouachita Mountains. The Ouachita Mountains rank among the oldest mountain ranges in the United States. Quartz is found in open crystal pockets which formed in the sandstone, shale, and other rocks of the region.
Some crystals have their origin in the fiery gases of the earth's interior or in the volcanic lava streams which reached the earth's surface. They formed by the solidification of the molten materials as it cooled and harened. They are also formed from silicon that has been dissolved in super-heated water. As the water cools the silicon tecombines with oxygen forming hesagonal structures of perfect molecular alignment.
Crystals are composed of minute particles called atoms. Atoms are made up of smaller particles called protons, neutrons and electrons. The way the atoms join together with other atoms determines what molecules will form to determine the physical properties of the crystal, its outer shape, hardness, cleavage, type of fracture, and optical properties.
Quartz crystals formed of silicon and oxygen are hexagonal structures that have the unique property of piezoelectricity ... which means that they respond in a regulated vibratory pattern when stimulated electronically or by pressure. This power can be measured. Because of its piezoelectricity, quartz crystals can be used to amplify, transform, focus and transfer energy.
No one knows how long it takes for most crystals to form. Some speculate it takes thousands of years, others say if the elements were right, crystals cound be formed in an instant.
There are several kinds of crystals. Single terminated, double terminated, small to latg clusters and tabulars.
Even thoiugh a crystal will shatter, it is still hard enough to cut glass. (On the Mohl scale a crystal is rated #7, a diamond #10). It is considered a semi-precious stone and as such has value to those who invest in and collect minerals.
Crystals are being used by men in several fields including industry, jewelry, electronics (the piezoelectricity property makes quartz crystals indispensable to the international electronics industry for use in everything from radios and watches to the silicon valley micro-computer chips and thousands of products between).
In the Metaphysical field the use of quartz crystals to amplify , transform, focus and transfer energy has led to a growing interest in them by groups and individuals who use the clear crystals for purposes most generally described as "Healing". Crystals are also used by people involved in acupuncture and chiropractors.
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