Smoky Quartz - Mineral and Healing Properties
Chemistry: continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Tectosilicates
Uses: Extensive
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Smokey Quartz -
Facted
Smoky Quartz is a variation to the Quartz. Quartz belongs to the trigonal crystal system. The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. In nature quartz crystals are often twinned, distorted, or so intergrown with adjacent crystals of quartz or other minerals as to only show part of this shape, or to lack obvious crystal faces altogether and appear massive.
Origin Of The Name
The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "quarz" and its Middle High German ancestor "twarc", which probably originated in Slavic (cf. Czech tvrd ("hard"), Polish twardy ("hard"). Quarz which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it kremen). Other sources attribute the word's origin to the Saxon word Querkluftertz, meaning cross-vein ore.
Interesting Facts
Quartz is the hardest of common minerals. Only rare minerals, such as diamonds, are harder than quartz. Quartz has many uses. It is used to make mortar and glass. Lenses are made from rock quartz. The French scientist Pierre Curie discovered in the 1880's that slices of quartz crystals become electrically charged when squeezed. Because of this property, quartz is used in radio, television, radar and in highly accurate clocks. Pure quartz consists of only two elements - silicon and oxygen. It is clear and glass-like.
Where Is It Found
Countries of origin are the Alps, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Madagascar, and Japan
What Do We Do With It
Stones can be used in Color Therapy, Crystal Grids, Crystal healing like Reiki, Crystal Magick, Meditation, Psychic & Intuitive work and Jewelry. Stones are also used for decoration around the home.
Metaphysical Uses
Smoky quartz is a very protective and grounding stone. It brings physical and psychic protection. It is also an excellent stone for protection from negative energy, as It removes negativity and negative energy of any kind and transforms them to positive energy.
As a root chakra stone, smoky quartz enhances survival instincts, and can help one reach personal and business goals. It is also used in assisting in making wishes come true by grounding their essence in reality. Thus, it is a stone that brings abundance, prosperity, and good luck.
Smoky quartz is beneficial mentally in several ways. It fosters cooperation in groups and supports their efforts energetically. It engenders creativity by bringing the same energies of grounding the creative process in reality to bring imaginative efforts to fulfillment Smoky quartz also works energetically to assist in prioritizing needs and wants, and brings wisdom to every day life.
Emotionally, smoky quartz is excellent for elevating moods, overcoming negative emotions, and relieving depression. Smoky quartz relieves stress, fear, jealousy, anger and other negative emotions by transforming them into positive energies. It is a helpful stone for enhancing and encouraging courage and inner strength. Smoky quartz is very comforting and calming, and can be considered a stone of serenity. It can, therefore, be very helpful in relieving grief.
Physical Characteristics
Color: Gray or brown to black
Luster: Glassy to vitreous as crystals, while cryptocrystalline forms are usually waxy to dull but can be vitreous.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent, cryptocrystalline forms can be translucent or opaque.
Crystal System: Trigonal; 3 2
Crystal Habits: Widely variable but the most common habit is hexagonal prisms terminated with a six sided pyramid (actually two rhombohedrons). Three of the six sides of the pyramid may dominate causing the pyramid to be or look three sided. Left and right handed crystals are possible and identifiable only if minor trigonal pyramidal faces are present. Druse forms (crystal lined rock with just the pyramids showing) are also common. Massive forms can be just about any type but common forms include botryoidal, globular, stalactitic, crusts of agate such as lining the interior of a geode and many many more.
Cleavage: Very weak in three directions (rhombohedral)
Fracture: Conchoidal
Hardness: 7
Specific Gravity: 2.65
Streak: White
Associated Minerals: Numerous and varied but here are some of the more classic associations of quartz (although any list of associated minerals of quartz is only a partial list): amazonite a variety of microcline, tourmalines especially elbaite, wolframite, pyrite, rutile, zeolites, fluorite, calcite, gold, muscovite, topaz, beryl, hematite and spodumene.
Best Field Indicators: First the fact that it is very common (always assume transparent clear crystals may be quartz), crystal habit, hardness, striations, good conchoidal fracture and lack of good cleavage.
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