About Quartz
History and Folklore
The word “quartz” comes from the German word Quarz. Quartz has been used from Gaelic communities in Pre-historic Ireland to the aboriginal tribes in Australia. Its uses and influences on history are as numerous as its varieties of colors. Quartz even has the unique ability to hold an electrical charge which has made this abundant stone instrumental in electronics.
Facts and Information
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust, after feldspar.
Identification and Characteristics
- R.I.: 1.544 - 1.548
- Hardness: 7
- S.G.: 2.65; variable 2.59–2.63 in impure varieties
- Species: Quartz
Cleaning Methods
- Safe in Warm Soapy water
- Risky in an Ultrasonic
