Did you know quartz comes in various different colors?

Quartz isn’t just a clear or white mineral. It is fairly diverse in colors including (but not limited to): pink, purple, green, brown, yellow, and red. In order to intensify the colors though, heat is applied to the gemstone.

Did you know quartz is not just one type of rock?

Quartz can be found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It can be found on the Earth’s crust and is made up of silica, or silicone dioxide.

Did you know there are at least 2 different classifications of quartz?

There is the natural quartz and there is also “cultured” quartz. Natural quartz is found…well in nature of course…but it is rarely used in products and industry. That is where the cultured quartz is found because it is grown in controlled laboratories. In addition to the classifications, there are also different grades of quartz, which include: gemstone, cultured, and electronics.

Did you know that sand is primarily quartz?

Quartz is the main ingredient in sand because it is rock forming and it has a high resistance to weathering. The sand make-up is also dependent on the local rock sources and conditions though.

Did you know quartz is abundant in supply?

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the world (feldspar is the first). It is about 12% of the mass of the Earth’s crust. Part of the reason that it is so generous is because of it’s resistance to day-to-day weather. The other part is because of it’s stability.

Did you know quartz possesses piezoelectricity?

Basically, when a crystal is compressed or stretched, an ignition is formed across the crystal’s face. A crystal will immediately expand and contract if the polarity of the ignition is compressed, which creates a vibration. The vibration is where the quartz comes in to play. Source: “Quartz.” World of Earth Science. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Aug. 2014 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.