Quartz crystal is the next most vast material in the earth's crust, very popular in fact that you can normally find it lying around in your own lawn. The material is used in many things such as quartz crystal watch movements and quartz crystal jewelry. The chemical formulation of quartz is SiO?,,; and the quartz crystal structure entails a constant framework of SiO?,";. The many different varieties can differ from simple garden variety rocks to semi precious stones which many have incorporated into their societies. The commonness of this material indicate finding it can be very easy based on what you are seeking.
Quartz is a very common part of granite along with other igneous rocks as well as sedimentary rocks such as limestone and shale. Quartz crystal properties include that it is greatly resistant to weathering. The natural occurrence of quartz in large volumes is normally in hydrothermal veins together with ore materials. Large crystals can be a couple of meters in length and weigh as much as 1400 pounds, good examples of this can be located in the Cave of the Crystals; so named because the cave is completely filled of clear quartz crystal that is remarkable in size and structure being some of the biggest ever found. Though naturally occurring quartz may be common it usually needs to be of an incredibly high purity to be used for industrial operations. Semiconductors for example use silicon wafers that require uncommon and expensive quartz that is of he best quality. One of the main locations for mining this material is Spruce Pine NC in the United States.
Apart from their industrial properties quartz often is used for other cultural purposes. Reiki healers and therapists make use of quartz crystal healing to help patients with a number of ailments. They are used to bring harmony to the body and the home by equalizing energies and elements. They are likewise used to help enlarge the mind for touching the spirit world by mediums as well as other psychically inclined persons. They have also been working in different cultures for protection and for Chakra balancing. The different types of crystal also create different effects; where the clear crystals are employed for techniques concerning clarity rose quartz crystal is more for balance and increasing positivity. Rose crystal is also used for emotional revitalization and healing emotional wounds.
Finding quartz crystals may be as simple as stepping outside if you happen to live in a place where they are frequent. There is such a thing as a mineral collecting map which can either be purchased locally from a general outdoors store or most likely found online and printed in the home for free. These maps can detect known areas of quartz deposits that will supply the easiest yield for your search. They may also show larger mine areas though it is important to check that the mine enables public access before going there. Certain mines are even catered specifically to the general public. Emerald Creek in North Carolina for example runs entirely on public interest where kids can mine their own gems, sluice for them with seeded buckets, or perhaps pan in the river as a great family day out. Creeks and streams can be an awesome place to find quartz and local parks with water access usually have sandbanks or low tide areas that are full of quartz. Smoky quartz is sometimes more common in some areas compared to the easily recognized clear quartz so you may have been finding quartz all along without even realizing.