Quartz
If ever there was to be an Olympics for crystals, quartz would win every category hands down. Often the unsung hero, quartz is adaptable enough to be utilised for all sorts of situations and is one of the widest and most readily available minerals. There are many varieties of quartz which include the familiar crystal forms of clear quartz, smoky quartz, amethyst and citrine. Quartz can also form tiny micro crystals such as those found in chalcedonies of lace agate or jaspers to name but a few.
Minerology
Mineralogically, quartz is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) meaning each silicon atom is linked to 2 oxygen atoms. Internally, the structure of quartz is actually made up of tiny pyramids where each silicon atom links to 4 oxygen atoms (SiO4 tetrahedra) to bond the building blocks together ionically and covalently (attraction of +ve and -ve charged ions as well as the sharing of their electrons) Category wise, It is usually described as being trigonal but it can actually belong in a different category in some cases.
Quartz deposits usually form in igneous rock as magma cools. If the magma cools slowly, larger crystals form. If there are pockets of gas containing magma, double terminated crystals shape in the space. As crystals build, they are subjected to many pressures which sometimes breaks a crystal. This can knit back together again when other minerals in solution leak into the space and recrystallise. This process often causes pockets of gas, water and other minerals within the crystal shape known as inclusions. Sometimes other crystals form at the same time and in the same spaces so minerals grow and form together.
Coloured quartz is caused by impurities or radiation within the environment when crystals are growing. The colour of quartz can be artificially altered by heat treatment. It can also be coated by applying other vaporised metals to the surface of a super-heated 800℃ crystal to create aura quartz.
Quartz also produces an electrical current when compressed along its axes (known as the piezoelectric effect) which is caused by the release of electrons from its outer shell. This is used in the electronic industry to control radio waves. The same effect can be seen if you were to strike a crystal with a hammer at which time a spark of light is created (n.b., this is not a recommended experiment to try at home as your crystals will strongly object)! Optically, it is used to rotate a plane of polarised light in instruments such as polarising microscopes.
Quartz For Balancing
There has been a huge amount written about the different forms of quartz which I will cover in future blogs. In the meantime, after that amount of technical information about quartz, it is probably time for a lie down in a darkened room….which brings me on to the practical uses of quartz for recharging and rebalancing. If you have two quartz type stones, simply hold one in either hand when you have an opportunity to rest. If you have a few more stones, place one on the heart as well as in the hands. If you have a fair collection, you can place them on the chakras. However, it is generally simpler to place them on the floor around where you are going to be resting as this places you in a very effective crystal grid. Then just intentionally connect with whichever crystals you are using and ask them to help you to recharge and rebalance in whatever time you have available. Following this, cleanse and recharge crystals before carefully placing gold medal in a suitable manner around the crystals in recognition of their world class service to you.
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