Quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins (veins produced through hot water circulation) and pegmatites (coarse-grained igneous rocks). This process initiated the transition from mined to manufactured quartz.
Sawyer invented the commercial quartz crystal manufacturing process in Cleveland, Ohio. He discovered that no matter how distorted a quartz crystal, the long prism faces always made a perfect 60-degree angle.Ĭharles B. The study of quartz by Nicolas Steno (1638–1686) paved the way for modern crystallography. He was aware of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum. In support of this idea, he said that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps and that large quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to cool the hands. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder (23–79 C.E.) believed quartz to be permanently frozen ice. Some sources, however, trace the word to the Saxon term Querkluftertz, meaning “cross-vein ore.” The term "quartz" comes from the German Quarz, which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křem). Specially prepared fused silica is used in the photolithography process of making semiconductor devices and is the starting material for optical fibers for the telecommunications industry.Īs one of the world's most common crustal minerals, quartz has been known to humanity through most of history and has been called by a bewildering array of names. In addition, synthetic fused silica is used for various purposes, such as to make the envelopes of halogen lamps, the sheaths of electric elements, and the precision mirrors of telescopes.
Today, quartz crystals are commonly used to make "oscillators" that keep track of time in wristwatches, provide a stable clock signal for digital integrated circuits, and stabilize radio transmitter frequencies. Historically, different varieties of quartz-such as agate, amethyst, onyx, and tiger's eye-have been used as gemstones. Pure quartz is made of crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO 2), but in nature it occurs in many varieties based on the presence of small amounts of other substances. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's continental crust. White, translucent to opaque, may display diasterism Pink, translucent, may display diasterism Yellow to reddish orange, greenish yellow Translucent chalcedony with small inclusions (usually mica) that shimmer.Ĭrimson glass-like crystal, absorbs vast amounts of solar energy Otherwise more specific names are used.Īgate where the bands are straight, parallel and consistent in size. Clear (if no impurities) also see VarietiesĦ-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid (typical)Ģ.65 constant variable in impure varietiesĪny cryptocrystalline quartz, although generally only used for white or lightly coloured material.
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