What Is A Crystal

Quartz Crystal Side Face

Quartz Crystal Crack Pattern

Quartz Crystal Base Side

What Is A Crystal

Most people use the word ‘to mean a stone with a crystalline shape – that is, like a small piece of glass, faceted and sparkling. Throughout this blog, the term is used to refer to some of the minerals, commonly known as crystals that can be used by man. Where appropriate the words gemstone, gem, jewel or stone may have also been used.

What Does The Word ‘Crystal’ Mean

The name ‘crystal’ is derived from the ancient Greek word krustallos meaning ‘clear ice’. It seems likely that early allusions to crystals referred to clear quartz. The ancients also called it 'Holy Ice' believing that a crystal was frozen hilt water spilled out from Heaven. Another belief was that a crystal had been made from water frozen at such a low temperature that it could never thaw out. Quartz was one of the first crystals to be used by man, and it is now one of the most important, being used as it is in a host of electronic devices, from quartz watched computer.

An Introduction To Crystals

Crystals are found all over the world, above and below the surface of the earth. Sometimes, smaller ones are washed out of caves by mountain streams, but most are to be found where they have been growing for millions of years, deep in the bowels if the earth. In these large natural caverns, the minerals condensed, gradually forming crystals. On a much smaller scale, crystals can be found inside hollow rocks (called ‘druses’) or even in stones (called ‘geodes’)

A single large quartz crystal

How Are Crystals Formed

The right combinations of chemicals and conditions are needed. Quartz, for example, is made of silica and oxygen. Additionally, a temperature of more than 300 degrees C. is required, plus sufficient pressure - about 20,000 lbs per square inch – in the earth’s crust. This combination of circumstances allows the liquid crystal to form. As it cools the liquid solidifies and the regular crystalline structure – an essential feature of crystals – is formed.

These stone can vary in size from microscopic but perfectly formed crystals to giants, such as the one three feet high and three feet wide, which is now in a French museum. Even more impressive is the massive single crystal discovered in India It is six feet tall and measures three feet across.


Earth Keepers

More giant crystals have been discovered in America, in caves 60 feet underground. These large crystals are called Earth Keepers. They are said to contain not only the complete history of the earth, but also the wisdom of outer space and the entire universe. Here we fond the source of the belief that crystals are more than lifeless pieces of inert material. And from this conviction springs the whole world of crystal power, going back to the beginning of time and forward to today’s latest technological advances.

The right conditions, and chemical combinations are needed to form crystals.
They are said to contain not only the complete history of the earth,
but also the wisdom of outer space and the entire universe.