![]() The most unique double-terminated quartz crystals come from Herkimer, New York. Quartz is found on every continent around the world but the highest quality quartz crystals are mined in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The main sources of high-quality prasiolite come from Brazil, Uruguay, and Nigeria.ĭue to it being fairly inexpensive, prasiolite is worn and collected by most rockhounds and crystal enthusiasts. Most of the time, prasiolite has been cabbed and faceted into different shapes and sizes which are used in jewelry and beaded bracelets. Prasiolite is very common and you’ll see it at every rock and mineral show you attend. Most, if not all of the natural ametrine comes from a single mine in Bolivia but the buyer should be aware of the large quantities of synthetics on the market.Īmetrine crystals are fairly rare and hard to source because most of the material is fashioned into jewelry or used by lapidary artists. ![]() Crystals exhibiting deep colored zones with a well-defined line between them demand the highest price per carat. The name “Ametrine” is a combination of each stone’s name, amethyst and citrine which are varieties of quartz. Citrine comes in a few different hues and saturations such as orange, yellow, and a hint of red. Its commercial availability makes it popular among jewelry designers and lapidary artists. Most people have seen faceted pieces and broken crystals which are crafted into cabochons or tumbled pieces. Probably my favorite representation of Smoky quartz.Ĭitrine is one of the most popular varieties of quartz and you rarely see it in crystal form. These are rare crystal formations sourced from a mountain region in France. Better yet, look up a “gwindle” smoky quartz crystal when you have a minute. The colors range from a light smoky to a dark black color and you’ll see single points sourced from Colorado and clusters sourced from Switzerland. Smoky quartz is the least popular variety of quartz crystals and I’m not sure why. Check out the link below to the open pit mine in South Carolina where you can dig your own. The quartz cluster above is actually “skeletal quartz” and gets its name from the etches on the outside of the quartz crystal. These cloud-like inclusions are caused by air, gas, and feathers caused by stress from the growth phase of the crystal. Milky quartz is so named because it has a rich white color and looks like a frozen cloud inside of a crystal. You’ll notice I didn’t put the word “crystal” in the heading because most rose quartz comes in large chunks Don’t believe then do some research on Aphrodite and the Assyrians. ![]() In fact, rose quartz has been popular among ancient civilizations because they believed it reversed aging and preserved beauty. Rose quartz is one of the most beloved varieties of quartz by crystal collectors. It’s pretty amazing to think mother nature created these crystals through heat, time, and pressure.Īnd don’t forget, when you unearth one of these crystal points or clusters you’re the first human to see it and hold it. Ida, Arkansas, or Hot Springs, Arkansas is your go-to spot for digging some of the finest quartz crystals.Īs you can see from the image above, each crystal looks like frozen water and if you look close you’ll see the natural etching on the faces of the crystals. However, after the discovery of large deposits in Brazil, the stone lost its appeal and became a stone for the common person.Ĭlear or crystal quartz is the purest variety of quartz crystals and here in the United States, we have one of the best sites for digging up quartz crystals and quartz crystal clusters. Throughout ancient history, amethysts were highly prized jewels of kings, queens, and religious leaders. This precious gemstone is the birthstone for February and designer jewelers love incorporating it into their designs. ![]() Let’s take a look at the many varieties of quartz and I’ll provide some pics and pointers on how to identify them.Īmethyst is a purple-colored, translucent variety of quartz and can be found in different forms like single points, clusters, geodes, water-worn nodules, and facet-grade rough. ![]() Now that we have the general information out of the way. Some varieties are manipulated by humans through heat and radiation to deepen the color or change the color completely. However, each variety of crystal has a slightly different chemical makeup that influences its color and inclusions. Quartz crystals are popular among rockhounds and specimen collectors because they’re found in almost every state, are fairly easy to dig up, they’re affordable which makes them great for junior rockhounds, and they come in all sorts of varieties, shapes, sizes, and unique inclusions make them even more interesting.Īll quartz crystals have a general composition of silicon dioxide which gives the stone a hard exterior and transparent composition. ![]()
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