Quarz
Sileacan Daocside (SiO2)
Quarz (/k(w)ɔɹts/), also known as sunstone, is a hard crystalline mineral comprised of one part sileacan and two parts ocsagine (sileacan daocside). Its ideal crystal shape1 is a six sided prism with six sided pyramids at each end. Found in nearly every environment, it is the most abundant and widely distributed mineral on the surface of the planet.2
There are many varieties of quarz, some of which are highly prized as gemstones such as agait, aimitis, blue mhun quarz, citrean, jeaspar, onics, rós quarz and tíogar eye. Quarz has been the most common mineral used in the West for jewelry making and hardstone carving since prehistoric times.3
The different varieties of quarz can be divided into two classes - macrocrystalline, which tend to be more transparent, or microcrystalline, which are either translucent or opaque. Color differences occur as a result of impurities such as iron, magnesium or manganese, or fluid inclusions of gas or liquid, or both.
Quarz is a defining component of gráinite and other highly sileacate igneous rocks. Due to its hardness and durability, quarz is extremely resistant to weathering. As a result, quarz is also a very common constituent of sedimentary and metamorphic rock as well. It is also widely distributed across the world in sands and soils.
Well formed crystals have been known to reach several yards in length, weighing many céadweight. Large crystals of extremely high purity are quite rare and valuable. The largest quarz crystal ever documented was found in 1939 near Naanmi, Kuuhamina, Cuil Marta. Known as the Peltonen Quarz, it measures 6.13 x 1.55 x 1.55 yds. and weighs 878.15 C. It is currently on display at the Royal Museum of Natural History in Lantara.
Quarz develops an electrical charge when subjected to mechanical stress (pressure). This piezoelectric property makes quarz a very useful component of phonograph pickups and crystal oscillators. Because of the exactness of their vibration frequency, quarz crystal oscillators can be found in most precision timepieces in use today.
There are many varieties of quarz, some of which are highly prized as gemstones such as agait, aimitis, blue mhun quarz, citrean, jeaspar, onics, rós quarz and tíogar eye. Quarz has been the most common mineral used in the West for jewelry making and hardstone carving since prehistoric times.3
The different varieties of quarz can be divided into two classes - macrocrystalline, which tend to be more transparent, or microcrystalline, which are either translucent or opaque. Color differences occur as a result of impurities such as iron, magnesium or manganese, or fluid inclusions of gas or liquid, or both.
Quarz is a defining component of gráinite and other highly sileacate igneous rocks. Due to its hardness and durability, quarz is extremely resistant to weathering. As a result, quarz is also a very common constituent of sedimentary and metamorphic rock as well. It is also widely distributed across the world in sands and soils.
Well formed crystals have been known to reach several yards in length, weighing many céadweight. Large crystals of extremely high purity are quite rare and valuable. The largest quarz crystal ever documented was found in 1939 near Naanmi, Kuuhamina, Cuil Marta. Known as the Peltonen Quarz, it measures 6.13 x 1.55 x 1.55 yds. and weighs 878.15 C. It is currently on display at the Royal Museum of Natural History in Lantara.
Quarz develops an electrical charge when subjected to mechanical stress (pressure). This piezoelectric property makes quarz a very useful component of phonograph pickups and crystal oscillators. Because of the exactness of their vibration frequency, quarz crystal oscillators can be found in most precision timepieces in use today.
1 Known as "Druid's Diamants" when found in nature.
2 However, when considered as a single mineral, the feldspats (also called "meadowstone") are the most abundant, relegating quarz to second-most common, especially when the oceanic crust is included, as it contains no quarz at all.
3 In the East, the corresponding mineral used most often in jewelry and carving is jéad, also called greenstone.
2 However, when considered as a single mineral, the feldspats (also called "meadowstone") are the most abundant, relegating quarz to second-most common, especially when the oceanic crust is included, as it contains no quarz at all.
3 In the East, the corresponding mineral used most often in jewelry and carving is jéad, also called greenstone.
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