Quartz: What is it?

Quartz is a mineral.

Often quartz is clear to milky, with other color variations depending on what impurities are present in its formation (Stoiber, 1945, pp.219-229).

It is mainly composed of silicon dioxide.

It is the second most abundant mineral on earth after feldspar.

Where is Quartz found?

Quartz can be found in all types of rocks. Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic all contain traces of quartz.

Some sources claim that quartz can be found everywhere on earth.

Brazil hosts the largest amount of types of quartz found to date (Sorden).

Where is Quartz found?

(cont.)

Since quartz can be found all

over earth, quartz varies in

value depending on it’s

clarity, cut, size, and

condition.

Quartz is usually mined from

veins within rock (Sorden).

There was a large quartz

vein running through

Gwinnett County in 2008.

Gwinnett County Quartz Finding

Gwinnett County Quartz

Vein

In 2008, a quartz vein was

discovered in Gwinnett

County, GA.

The exact location was

never specified (Barrett,

2011).

Jason Barrett is credited

with its discovery.

Physical Properties of

Quartz

Because of the versatility

that quartz has, it is used

for many different things.

Quartz is often used in

glass making as well as

for decorative gemstones

in jewelry.

Common gemstone

names for quartz are

amethyst, citrine, jasper,

rose quartz and smoky

quartz.

How does Quartz form?

While quartz can be found in all forms of rock, it is formed in igneous rocks originally.

Molten magma slowly makes its way up to the surface of the earth. As the magma moves, it is getting cooled because its farther away from the center of the earth.

This causes crystals to form because of the presence of silicates, oxygen, and other elements present in the magma. As the magma cools gradually, the crystals will extend out forming larger deposits of quartz within the now solidified magma.

The presence of other elements such as titanium or iron oxide, give the minerals their different hues.

How does Quartz Form?

Quartz forms from silicate which compounds over

time without being disturbed.

Since quartz is fairly hard, it stands up to erosion

better than other minerals causing it to be more

abundant.

What is Quartz used for?

Quartz has been used for many different reasons (King, “Quartz”).

Some quartz has been used in silicon based computer chips. In Spruce Pine, North Carolina, the Thomas family has owned the gem mine for decades and has mined almost every kind of precious gemstone (“Gem Mining History”).

Luther Thomas, Early 1900s

More Uses for Quartz

When put under pressure, quartz will emit a positive charge from one end of the crystal and a negative charge from the other. This makes it useful in many types of electronic applications (Nave).

It is often utilized in circuit boards for varying products, as well as frequency control devices.

Rose Quartz

The largest deposit of rose quartz is found in Brazil

in Bahia and Minas Gerais.

Bahia

Minas Gerais

Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz is said to

be formed after being

exposed to differing

amount of radiation and

aluminum.

This causes the blackish

coloring within the crystal.

Smoky quartz can be

found in many countries

across the world including

Namibia, Scotland, The

U.S.A., Russia, China,

and many more.

References

Barrett, J. (2011, December 8). My quartz spot(very pic heavy) w/video. Mindat Mineralogy Messageboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,5,220328,page=2

Gem Mining History. (n.d.). Spruce Pine NC Gemstone MineGemstones Jewelry Gifts. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://www.sprucepinegemmine.com/gem-mining-history/

King, H. (n.d.). Quartz. Mineral. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://geology.com/minerals/quartz.shtml

Nave, R. (n.d.). Quartz. Quartz. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geophys/quartz.html

Quartz. (n.d.). Minerals Education Coalition. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals/quartz

Sorden, S. (n.d.). Where is Quartz Found?. Where is Quartz Found?. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://www.geocities.ws/quartz_project/location.html

Stoiber, R., Tolman, C., & Butler, R. (1945). Geology of Quartz Crystal Deposits. American Mineralogist, 30, 219-229. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/arc/quartzdep.htm