Rock Review: Smokey Quartz

Today’s gem, Smokey Quartz, gained a some popularity over the past year as it has been used to compliment the many grays and neutral tones we are finding in our closets these days. Smokey Quartz, as all Quartz, is a silicon dioxide crystal that forms over time as oxygen and silica based solutions that are present in the earth combine together. The dark gray/brown tones in Smokey Quartz are a result of “free silicon” by product of the chemical reaction that then colors the stone through irradiation.

Quartz is the second most prevalent mineral (Feldspar is first) in the world and is found in many sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. It can be found in widely known stones such as Granite, Rhyolite, Obsidian, and Sandstone. Some special varieties of Smokey Quartz are Morion and Cairngorm. Morion is the name for a color of Smokey Quartz that has a rich, even, glassy black appearance. Cairngorm is found in the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland and has a smokey yellow/brown or gray/brown color and is a popular trademark of traditional Scottish jewelry.

Many people prize quartz as mystical stone that possesses healing powers. Smokey Quartz in particular is believed to be useful in healing ailments of the abdomen, kidneys, pancreas, hips and legs. It also is useful for pain relief, particularly for headaches, muscle aches and nerve pain. Many varieties of quartz are also used to bring clarity to dreams, secure a peaceful sleep and instill a sense of well being.

Check out a recently made Cocktail ring from Layne Designs in Smokey Quartz. Contact Layne for more details on this beauty or a few of it's "friends" in other quartz varieties!

Rock Review: Rose Quartz

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60357008/rose-quartz-brandy-bracelet

I chose Rose Quartz today simply because it was pink and that seemed appropriate for Valentine's Day. Little did I know that Rose Quartz is actually known as the stone of love! It is believed that the stone can make the wearer feel a sense of self worth, and ignite passion in marriage. The stone is thought to heal and strengthen unconditional love rather than attract new love.

This stone is great for any kind of jewelry because it is very durable and resistant to scratches. It is also very comfortable to wear. At first it is cold to the touch but as it is worn, it becomes closer to your body temperature. Care for the stone is minimal, if you own a piece of rose quartz, it may be cleaned with soap and warm water and a toothbrush.

All stones in the quartz family have a very stable crystal structure and vibrational energy that is used to receive, send and hold energy. For this reason, quartz is used for practical purposes in watches and radios. This may be why healers and shamans from around the world have used the stone for centuries before this special property was proved by science. According to an article on fusionanomoly.net, the Amazonian shamans believe that spirits can become visible in quartz crystals.

While I may not be interested in seeing spirits in Quartz crystal, I am interested in the idea that this stone, worn close to my body is receiving and attuned to my body's vibrational frequency. I am interested that it is the stone of love and that perhaps it is able to use this balancing property to strengthen the bond between me and my love. How interesting indeed.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/39351790/rose-quartz-drop-pendant-with-pearls

Rock Review: Dendritic Quartz

"cosmos ring" on etsy

While researching for this article, I learned something totally new! For the longest time, I was under the impression that my beautiful dendritic quartz stones were marked with impressions of fossilized plant material. That is what I had been told by the gem dealer who first sold me the stone. Even the word dendrite comes from the Greek “dendron” meaning “tree.” I continued buying the stone because it has such beautiful patterns, and it is a good, hearty stone. It is not easily scratched or broken.

I started looking things up about dendritic stones (they come in more than just

quartz) I found out that I was totally wrong about how those beautiful patterns got in the stone! My apologies for any previous mis-information on the subject. As it turns out, the patterns in dendritic quartz are part of a fascinating geological process. Where a deposit of quartz in the ground may have tiny fissures running through it, mineral solutions flow through the rock fissures. Hot mineral solutions including manganese and iron are percolating through the quartz base, and when cooled quickly, they are solidified and frozen in time!

Frozen in Time Dendritic Quartz Pendant

I feel glad to have that cleared up. I learn something new every day. Do you have any favorite stones with fun patterns? Let me know, and I'll try to find out how the cool patterns got there!