Quartz
Mineral Group: SILICATES
RocksForKids.com
| Quartz is a very common mineral. The quartz family is very large with a large variety of gemstone material. These quartzes are crystalline. Quartz goes by many common names such as: amethyst, citrine, Herkimer diamonds, massive quartz, milky quartz, smoky quartz, rock crystal, rose quartz, rutilated quartz, tiger's eye. Chalcedony is form of cryptocrystalline quartz that includes agate, bloodstone, chert and jasper. Quartz is the most common mineral found in rocks. Quartz is very important in industry for making gauges, oscillators, resonators and watches. Quartz crystals are strongly piezoelectric, becoming polarized with a negative charge on one end and a positive charge on the other when subjected to pressure. They will vibrate if an alternating electric current is applied to them. |
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 SPECIMEN ORIGIN: Quadville, Ontario, CANADA |
This quartz sample is milky white with some glassy portions. Quartz is very hard and very common. Because it is hard, it will scratch many rocks. Many rocks have quartz in them and that is why they are hard. Quartz breaks with very sharp edges that easily scratch people and things. Quartz is one of the most common rock-building
minerals. It is most often found in large massive chunks. When quartz is
massive, it is a white, milky color. It is also sometimes called milky
quartz.
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Clear quartz crystals are what most people think of when they think of a crystal. | ||
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This is a polished quartz sphere. When clear quartz has the fine needle-shaped crystals of rutile in it, it is called rutilated quartz. |
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 ORIGIN: Kentucky, USA |
This geode half is lined with clear quartz crystal
tips, or terminations. They sparkle. The geode “skin” is a smooth, light
gray rock.
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The word crystal is derived from a Greek word meaning clear ice. | |
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Rose Quartz is pink in color, probably caused by trace amounts of manganese or titanium. The Ancients believed that Rose Quartz helped women have beautiful complexions and prevented wrinkles. It was also believed to open a person's heart, so that person might receive love and give love more easily. |
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Smoky quartz Polished smoky quartz carving - a hand holding a "crystal ball". |
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 ORIGIN: Herkimer, New York, USA |
Herkimer Diamond Perfectly formed, very hard, clear, gem-like quartz crystal in vug in gray rock matrix. “Herkimer diamonds” look like they have been cut & polished but they form naturally in holes inside rocks in the area near the town of Herkimer, New York.
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Herkimer diamonds are not really diamonds. They are actually doubly terminated quartz crystals. They are called diamonds because they come out of the host rock completely formed & look like they have been cut & polished like a diamond. | |
 ORIGIN: SOUTH AFRICA |
Tiger’s Eye Tiger’s Eye is a quartz that contains fibers of crocidolite which has altered to a yellow color. The fibers give the specimen it’s distinctive glowing chatoyancy.
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