All Hail Queen Quartz!

Quartz is a Queen.
She knows it.
Her Queendom runs far and wide as Quartz can be found in pretty much all mineral environments.
Quartz is also the most varied of all minerals. 
There are more variety names attributed to Quartz than any other mineral.

​There are two major parts to her Queendom, Macrocrystalline and Microcrystalline.

Macrocrystalline Quartz "has crystals with distinct shapes that are recognizable to the naked eye."
Examples of Macrocrystalline Quartz are:
Rock Crystal, Amethyst, Ametrine, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, & Aventurine.

Microcrystalline Quartz "has microscopically small crystals that are so miniscule and packed tightly together that they're completely indistinguishable to the naked eye."
Examples of Microcrystalline Quartz are:
The entire Chalcedony group, which includes Agates & Jaspers,
Chrysoprase, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Sardonyx, & Onyx.

Something else to consider is how all of these different colors and varieties of Quartz occur.
Different colors are made by different chemicals or in some cases,
by different treatments or enhancements.
A few examples:
Amethyst gets its purple color from iron.
The color of Smoky Quartz is caused by traces of aluminum.
Rose Quartz gets its color from traces of titanium, iron, or manganese.
Bloodstone is a Green Chalcedony (a Microcrystalline Quartz) with red spots caused by iron oxide.
Prasiolite, or Green Amethyst, gets its color by heat treating violet colored Amethyst.
What?
Until now, I thought Green Amethyst was natural!
If you're curious about how a specific Quartz got it's coloration, Google it.
There's more information available than a casual Quartz enthusiast would ever need.

​So what about Quartz's metaphysical properties?
There's a lot of information out there. 
As to the specific properties of the different varieties of Quartz,
I go into detail on several specific stones in my Etsy listings.  
For the purpose of this portion of my blog, I'm going to be using, 
"The Book of Stones:  Who They Are & What They Teach" by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian. Also, because you don't know where you're going until you know where you've been,
I'm going to focus on some fascinating historical beliefs about pure, clear Quartz.
* The Japanese viewed Quartz "as a symbol of infinite space, purity, perseverance, and patience".
* "Indigenous cultures in both North America and Burma have believed clear Quartzes to be living entities and presented them with food as ritual offerings."
* "In Scotland and Ireland, spheres of rock crystal were long used to cure disease in cattle."
* "In past cultures of Central and South America, Quartz crystals carved into the shapes of human skulls were venerated as powerful religious objects - the dwellings of deceased ancestors or gods."

There's so much more that makes Quartz worthy of her royal title.
But, it's time to show you and not simply tell you.
​Please peruse my beautiful Quartz creations.
For more information, please click on the picture of the piece in question and you will be taken to Etsy where you can both read the piece's description and make it your very own.

Be well!
​

​I referred to and quoted from the following websites:
 https://www.gemrockauctions.com/learn/technical-information-on-gemstones/types-of-quartz-and-the-enhancements-or-treatments-used
​http://www.minerals.net/mineral/quartz.aspx

Blueberry Quartz and Cherry Quartz with Wire Wrapped Pendant and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Raw, Natural Peach Quartz Pendants with Silverite Peach Moonstone and Sterling Silver Beads & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

AAA Clear Quartz Faceted Barrels with Sterling Silver Beads & Findings -- NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Strawberry Quartz, Yellow Opal, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Leather Cord -- NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Smoky Quartz, Labradorite, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Leather Cord - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Quartz, Apatite, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Leather Cord - $180.00

Natural Quartz Formation, Quartz Points, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Leather Cord - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Solar Quartz, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Leather Cord - $100.00

Choice of Green or Yellow Solar Quartz with Sterling Silver Beads & Findings and Leather Cord - $80.00

Raw, Natural, & Top-Drilled Quartz Points with Sterling Silver Chain and Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Pineapple Quartz and Opalite with Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - $150.00

Golden Rutilated Quartz with Ornate Whiskey Quartz Pendant and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - $250.00

Raw Quartz Pendant, Rock Crystal Spacers, Hemimorphite, and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Matte and Shiny Peach Quartz Spikes, Gray Moonstone Spikes, Swarovski Bicones, and Sterling Silver Chain & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Rose Quartz, Green Quartz, Quartz Spikes, and Sterling Silver Beads & Findings - $150.00

Natural Blue Quartz, Freshwater Pearls, and Sterling Silver Pendant, Beads, Chain, & Findings - $170.00

Copper Rutilated Quartz, Garnet, and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Peach Quartz Spikes, Sterling Silver Pendant, Beads, & Findings, and Silk Chain - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Rose Quartz with Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - $95.00

Gray Quartz, Natural Gray Cat's Eye, Detailed Bali Silver Pendant, and Sterling Silver Chain & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Strawberry Quartz and Sterling Silver Beads & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Copper Rutilated Quartz, Carnelian, and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Smoky Quartz Necklace and Earrings with Sterling Silver Chain & Findings - $62.50

Smoky Quartz, Pineapple Quartz, Sterling Silver Beads & Findings, and Silk Chain - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Tourmalinated Quartz and Sterling Silver Beads, Chain, & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Green Quartz, Rose Quartz, & Pineapple Quartz Earrings with Sterling Links & Findings - NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Cherry Quartz, Rose Quartz, & Sterling Silver and Pineapple Quartz, Green Quartz, & Sterling Silver Bracelets on Stretch - NO LONGER AVAILABLE