The word “quartz” is derived from the German word “Quarz”, which had the same form in the first half of the 14th century in Middle High German, in East Central German, and which came from the Polish dialect term kwardy, which corresponds to the Czech term tvrdý ("hard").

The Ancient Greeks referred to quartz as κρύσταλλος (krustallos) derived from the Ancient Greek κρύος (kruos) meaning “icy cold”, because some philosophers (including Theophrastus) apparently believed the mineral to be a form of super-cooled ice. Today, the term rock crystal is sometimes used as an alternative name for the purest form of quartz.

HISTORY

There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones. Clear quartz has an incredibly long history of use in all sorts of fields. It is one of the most famous crystals in the world, and has been significant to cultures on every continent.

COMPOSITION

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2.

HARDNESS

Mohs Scale Hardness: 7

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Clear Quartz is known as the “master healer” and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effects of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy. Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralizing background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations.

Quartz crystals are said to stimulate the immune system and help with physical energy and resiliency in the face of sickness. Quartz has also been used to treat headaches, migraines, and vertigo, as well as improving general energy for people suffering from lethargy – which also makes it a positive contributor to weight loss.

Throughout history, Clear Quartz has been valued by nearly every civilization as far back as Atlantis and Lemuria, where the sun’s power was believed to be harnessed through a crystal as a source of solar energy refraction. They, along with Native American Indians, African tribes, ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Romans, Scots and countless other cultures used Clear Quartz in diagnostic healing, meditations and spiritual development, as religious objects and in funerary rites, and to dispel evil and magical enchantments. [Mella, 82][Melody, 506][Kunz, 219]

Clear Quartz is a master healer crystal, and may be used for any condition. It is thought to stimulate the immune and circulatory systems, enhancing energy flow and bringing the body into balance. It has been used to treat migraine headaches, vertigo, in stabilizing dizziness or motion sickness, and is believed to assist with metabolism, exhaustion, and weight loss. [Hall, 225][Melody, 506][Eason, 133][Megemont, 73]

A Crystal elixir taken internally has been used to eliminate toxins from the system and to aid in the treatment of digestive disorders, kidney and bladder infections, and to cure diarrhea. The indirect method of preparation is recommended. [Melody, 506][Megemont, 73]

Clear Quartz soothes painful or injured areas, especially burns, by drawing away pain and eliminating blistering. A topical elixir is also beneficial in treating skin disorders. [Melody, 506][Megemont, 73][Hall, 226]