Quartz

Quartz is present everywhere on earth and it serves as the foundation of many other crystals and minerals. In its purest form it is crystal clear, but it comes in myriad varieties. Just as all living and earthly things do, it takes on unique traits depending on where it’s from and the environment it grows in.

All of the stones above are a variety of quartz: rose quartz, amethyst, agate, aventurine, smoky quartz, citrine, carnellian, jasper, tiger’s eye…and there are many more.

Each stone has a unique story to tell. For instance, I recently paid a visit to my parents’ house and while I was there they asked me to sort through my recently departed grandmother’s jewelry box to determine if there was anything of worth inside. (Vintage jewelry restoration is a pet hobby of mine.) While I was doing so, I found two stones that I couldn’t identify. After doing some research I discovered that they are Montana Moss Agate, a very unique variety of quartz from the Yellowstone region of Montana believed to have been created as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. We have family out there and my grandmother enjoyed visiting, so I’m pretty certain she got these as a way to take a piece of it home with her.

Quartz is a very energetic crystal. It is great for focusing the mind and setting intentions. It’s also quite durable and can vibrate at precise frequencies. In the early 20th century devices known as crystal oscillators were created to harness the power of quartz and are still used today in every day items like watches, radios, tvs, and cell phones. So not only is it all around us in nature, but it’s in our electronic devices, too. There are many other practical uses for quartz as well, though that is probably the coolest.

Don’t let its abundance fool you into taking it for granted. Quartz may be common, but it still has value and power.