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Quartz and its varieties

· 1 min read · Materials

Clear quartz crystals

Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust and one of the most used gems in jewelry. Its varieties cover almost every color and price.

Properties #

  • Composition: silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
  • Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale.
  • Crystalline varieties: rock crystal (colorless), amethyst (violet), citrine (yellow), smoky quartz (brown) and rose quartz.
  • Microcrystalline varieties: chalcedony, agate, onyx, carnelian and jasper.
  • Treatments: many citrines are heated amethysts; the color of some varieties is improved with dyes.

Uses in jewelry #

  • Beads, cabochons and faceted stones.
  • Affordable rings, pendants and earrings.
  • Cameos and hardstone carving.

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

  • Affordable and durable.
  • A wide range of colors and shapes.
  • Widely available.

Limitations #

  • It lacks the sparkle of denser stones.
  • Some colors are dyed or treated.
  • It can be scratched by harder stones.

Care and cleaning #

  • Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap and a brush.
  • Avoid hard knocks and intense heat.
  • For dyed varieties, avoid prolonged water.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.