Quartz
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Density: 2.59-2.63g/cm³
Refractive index: 1.543-1.545
One of the most abundant minerals to be found in nature – and yet magical!
Quartz crystals come in a variety of colours, from yellow to black, and have long been attributed with strong spiritual properties.
Pure, jewelry-quality crystal itself is not very commonly seen in the market, but we can come across fascinating quartz intergrown with other rocks, such as rutile.
One of the stones most commonly used in jewelry is rose quartz. Ornaments made from this stone date back to around 7000 BC. There is evidence to this day that the ancient Roman, Egyptian and Greek civilizations valued this stone as a powerful talisman.
The colour of rose quartz is mainly caused by microscopic inclusions of silica mineral fibers. It is most evident in larger sizes - smaller, well-coloured rose quartz is relatively rare.
Strawberry Quartz – This variety of quartz crystal is characterized by its pinkish to red colour, which is caused by inclusions of iron and hematite. In some cases, they are relatively evenly distributed throughout the stone, in other cases they are concentrated in small dots.
The most valueable specimens usually come from Russia and Mexico.
In ancient times, strawberry quartz was considered a symbol of vitality and love. In contemporary lithotherapy, it is attributed with the ability to harmonize emotions and promote positive thinking.
Lavender Quartz – A magically coloured stone that is found only in the Brazilian Boquira mine. However, mining there is currently on halt.
Some argue whether it is created artificially and there are also those who consider it "only" a type of rose quartz. World gemologists have not yet reached an absolute consensus on the classification of this minor quartz. However, it is true that some producers artificially heat or coat rose quartz to make it look like lavender quartz.
This does not change anything about the fact that natural specimens acquire their light purple color with orange reflections and milky turbidity due to the presence of a higher content of manganese and titanium. It is not only this feature that makes it clear at first glance that this is not an amethyst.
Amethyst - The most famous and probably the most profaned purple variety of quartz, whose colour comes from admixtures of iron and natural radiation. Until the discovery of large reserves in Brazil, it was considered a gemstone in Europe, along with other cardinal gemstones (emerald, ruby, sapphire, diamond).
In recent years most amethysts have been mined in Brazil and Madagascar, but it is found in a number of other countries on all continents.
The price of this stone can of course also vary depending on the intensity of its color.
In ancient times, amethyst was associated with protection against drunkenness. Astrologers assign it to the signs of Pisces and Virgo.
Amethyst can also be heat-treated to a green or orange color.
Citrine – A yellow variety of quartz, the origin of whose colour has not yet been fully elucidated, but it is probably caused by aluminum.
Natural citrines are rarer than one might think, so we often encounter more affordable "citrines", or rather heat-treated amethysts or smoky quartz stones. They often have a rich, orange color, but the so-called Madeira citrine can also have this or a darker color.
For a long time, it was valued for its similarity to gold or yellow topaz and was believed to bring wealth. Astrologically, it is associated with the sign of Leo and is considered a stone of prosperity.
Prasiolite – A green variety of quartz. Its colour is caused by higher concentrations of aluminum and iron than amethyst. However, over time, the name "prasiolite" came to refer mainly to artificially colored amethyst, so we often encounter true prasiolite under the term "green amethyst".
Natural prasiolite is relatively rare and most often comes from Brazil, but it has also been mined in Silesia.
It is associated with regeneration and vitality. Spiritually, it is attributed with the ability to strengthen the heart chakra and attract harmony.
Smoky quartz – A brown to smoky gray variant of quartz, the color of which is caused by aluminum, lithium, and sodium "impurities" in the quartz structure, activated by radiation from surrounding rocks.
Unfortunately, it can lose its color due to high temperatures.
The black variety of chalcedony is called onyx. It often contains white streaks. It is formed by gradual sedimentation in the cavities of rocks.
Spiritually, it is associated with stability and courage, and is said to protect the wearer from negative energy.