Clear Rock and Crystal Quartz
Pure quartz, traditionally called rock crystal or clear quartz, is colorless and transparent or translucent, and has often been used for hardstone carvings. Sparkling Rock and Quartz Crystal can shine like diamonds in the sunlight. Sometimes the crystals are heated then dipped into ice cold water, which gives it a crackled look that enhances its diamond-like appearance in candlelight. Rock crystal, specifically, is a transparent, colorless variety of quartz. It is also known as Alaska diamond or mountain crystal. Rock crystal does not contain enough trace minerals to affect its coloration, so it appears clear. Different types of quartz include amethyst (purple quartz), citrine (yellow), rose quartz (light pink), and smoky quartz (dark, translucent gray). Druzy Crystals form when ground water carrying dissolved silica is forced into a porous area of the rock, rapid cooling often occurs, causing the formation of tiny crystals on the surfaces or in cavities of the rock. In addition to clear quartz, some other minerals found in druzy form are chrysocolla, malachite, hematite, psilomelane, uvarovite, pyrite, carnelian and cobalto-calcite. Common colored varieties include citrine, rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others.
