Iowa State Gemstone
Quartz STATUS Unofficial DESCRIPTION Quartz, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), is the most common mineral found in the Earth’s continental crust. Quartz composes an estimated 60 percent of the continental crust and as much as 50 percent of the basalt in the oceanic crust. Quartz occurs in basically all mineral environments and is a component of many rocks and the inner layer of many geodes. Rock crystal, the most common gem variety of quartz crystal, is pure quartz, and like all quartz, is formed from the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, silicon and oxygen. Quartz is found in an impressive range of varieties and colors, including purple, rose, black, yellow, brown, green, and orange, and can also be colorless or multicolored. The main varieties of this stone are chalcedony, agate, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, rock crystal, smoky quartz, milky quartz, rutilated quartz, onyx, tiger’s eye, and aventurine. These varieties are classified as either macrocrystalline, meaning crystals are large and visible to the naked eye, or cryptocrystalline, meaning they have microscopic crystals. STATE SYMBOL Iowa does not have an official state gemstone, but quartz is the most common crystal in the state’s geodes, the Iowa state rock. Much of the quartz found in Iowa is of gem quality. NAME ORIGIN The word "quartz" comes from the German quarz, which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křemen) and means "hard." FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE Quartz commonly occurs in igneous rocks such as granite, sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale, and metamorphic rocks like schist, gneiss, and quartzite. Its resistance to weathering makes it also common in stream sediments and residual soils. Quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins along with ore minerals. Large crystals of quartz are found in pegmatites. Giant quartz crystals, along with large specimens of dolomite, talc, and other minerals, occur at Farm Natas/Verloren in the Hakos Mountains, Central Namibia. What is thought to be the largest quartz specimen on display was mined on the Otjua farm in Namibia; it can be visited in the Kristallgalerie in Swakopmund, Namibia. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Quartz is extraordinarily common and is found all over the world. The following is a list of some of the more important localities: Alps of Switzerland and Austria Italy: Carrara, Tuscany France: Bourg d'Oisans, Isère, Rhône-Alpes Russia, Mursinka, Ural Mountains, in the Dodo mine, about 100 km west-northwest of Saranpaul, Subpolar Ural Mountains, and elsewhere Myanmar: Sakangyi, Katha district Japan: Yamanashi Prefecture and many other places Madagascar: Tamboholehehibe and elsewhere Brazil: many localities in Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais,Goiás, and Bahia Uruguay: around Artigas Canada: Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, Ontario United States: Mt. Ida to Hot Springs, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas; Middleville, Herkimer County, New York; Alexander and Lincoln Counties, North Carolina; Pala and Mesa Grande districts, San Diego County, California; El Capitan Mountains, Lincoln County, New Mexico; Crystal Park area, Beaverhead County, and Little Pipestone Creek, Jefferson County, Montana; and Pikes Peak area, El Paso County, Colorado Mexico: Veracruz and Guerrero USES Historical Uses Early civilizations believed that these pinhead-size to nearly a meter in diameter rock crystals were permanently frozen ice. Quartz’s high thermo-conductivity, which makes it feel cool to the touch, may have added to this belief. Regardless of what early people may have believed, historical records show the use of rock crystal for decoration and jewelry for at least 4,000 years. Tools and weapons were made from rock crystal long before it was used for decoration and jewelry. For centuries in Europe and the Middle East, the various varieties of quartz were the most common semi-precious stones used in jewelry and carving. Valuable objects including engraved gems, cameos, and extravagant vases and vessels were carved from the stone. Nicolas Steno, who is considered the father of geology, paved the way for modern crystallography with his studies of quartz in the 17th century. Steno discovered that no matter how distorted a quartz crystal, the long prism faces always made a perfect 60-degree angle. Modern Uses Sand is composed of tiny quartz pebbles and is the primary ingredient in manufactured glass. Transparent rock crystal is used in the study of optics. Quartz is also used as an abrasive for sandblasting, grinding glass, and cutting soft stones. Quartz is essential in the computer industry, since silicon semiconductors are made from the mineral. Quartz crystals are piezoelectric, which means they develop an electric charge with mechanical stress. This property was employed in phonograph pickups using quartz crystals, and today quartz is used as a crystal oscillator in quartz clocks, watches, radios, and pressure gauges. In addition, quartz is important in the production of soaps and ceramics. In the gem industry, many varieties of quartz are cut as faceted stones. One of the most popular gems, quartz is often cut as a brilliant round to maximize the color. Amethyst is the most popular quartz gem, and citrine is the most valuable. Rose quartz, smoky quartz, rock crystal, and aventurine are also cut into gems. The black and white combination of rock crystal and onyx was popular in art deco jewelry design. Some believe that a clear quartz crystal pendant will bring the wearer good luck. Colorless stones can be heat-treated, irradiated, or dyed to enhance the color. Quartz specimens are very popular with mineral collectors. Some collectors specialize their entire collections on different types of quartz. Legend/Folklore Quartz has long been thought to have mystical and magical properties. Rock crystal and smoky quartz were once used for crystal balls by fortunetellers and witches. But since large, flawless specimens of rock crystal are rare, crystal balls are now made of glass. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, metaphysical uses and applications of rock crystal resulted in an increase in its production and processing. The metaphysical market used raw crystal in jewelry, personal power and healing devices, and as charms. Additionally, spheres, skulls, pyramids, and other metaphysical objects were made from rock crystal. The metaphysical market has declined from its peak and now appears to have stabilized. SUBSTITUTES / SYNTHETICS One of the first gems to be synthetically grown on a large scale was quartz. This industry was primarily developed during World War II to supply crystals for radios. Today synthetic quartz is used extensively in the electronics industry.	Quartz Crystals Quartz Sample Amber Quartz Clear Quartz Crystal Carved Quartz Vase QUARTZ FACTS Group: Quartz Chemical Formula: SiO2 Crystal Structure: Trigonal Hardness (Mohs): 7, lower in impure varieties Color: Clear (in pure form) Transparency: Transparent Luster: vitreous Birefringence: +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism: None Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 - Dr +0.009 (B-G interval) Density: 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties Streak: White Cleavage: None Fracture: Conchoidal
	Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America Author: World Trade Press