The hues produced by this interaction vary from eye-catching bright violets to the more demure shades of lavender. In the same way that the colors of smoky quartz form through the interaction of impurities in the crystal with natural background radiation, amethyst also depends upon this process to create the wonderful colors that make it so famous.Īfter the initial crystallization of the quartz, gamma rays emitted from the host rock cause iron impurities to acquire those beautiful purple shades. We've also added in a couple of crystals that although not quartz, are commonly mistaken for it.Įveryone's favorite purple gemstone! The amethyst is another variation of the quartz crystal family. Here are our top 5 picks of gorgeous quartz gemstones and why they differ from clear quartz. Macrocrystalline gems, such as amethyst, contain crystals that are easily visible to the naked eye, while cryptocrystallines, such as chalcedony, require magnification to see the crystals. Quartz crystals can generally be divided into either macrocrystalline or cryptocrystalline. Where there are impurities in the crystal due to geological conditions, the color of the stone may alter giving rise to variants such as rose quartz, amethyst, citrine, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and others. This makes it a relatively hard gem and quite suitable for jewelry as it is quite resistant to impact and other types of wear and tear. The crystals then form into the distinctive hexagonal shape and tend to be mostly transparent with a Mohs mineral hardness rating of 7. Hopefully we've helped to set the record straight on what makes a gem a gem, and also what makes a crystal a crystal.When a silicon atom combines with two oxygen atoms they form a single molecule of silicon dioxide, the chemical composition of quartz. Gemology and crystallography lingo can be confusing to many if they're unfamiliar with the nuances of these studies – so if you've ever accidentally called a rock a gem or an amber stone a crystal, don't worry! You aren't the first and you won't be the last. Crystals are also categorized by their crystal system, which refers to a subcategory of the above lattice systems. Other crystal classifications include orthorhombic, monoclinic and rhombohedral. This can mean a cubic crystal, a tetragonal crystal, a or a hexagonal crystal. Gems are usually categorized based on their chemical makeup - what makes this gem the gem that it is? What trace minerals can be found within it that make up its color scheme? How is it structured? Gems are then typically cut to size after their value is determinedĬrystals, on the other hand, are usually classified by their shape. The way we classify both gems and crystals varies, though a gem that is crystalline will occur and fall into both categories. These then go on to extend to three dimensions, creating a crystalline shape. Crystals are defined solids that contain atoms, molecules and ions in a fixed order. Gems are made organically through minerals or organic matter. One last thing to note is that gems and crystals are usually made through very different means, which can explain why they are different though may coincide with one another. This goes to show that while sometimes a gem can be a crystal, and vice versa, these two terms aren't synonymous by definition. You may have already used this distinction in your everyday life and not have known! Consider sugar crystals – you wouldn't call a crystal of sugar a gemstone, would you? Salt crystals are also crystals, but you certainly couldn't call them gemstones either. Thus, these terms aren't synonymous BUT they may coincide with one another on occasion. However, not all crystals will be made of a rare, high-quality mineral. Because a gem is a rare, high-quality mineral, it can certainly be crystalline in nature. These definitions are obviously not the same, but they can potentially sync up. This mineral is of the purest quality, so it is priced highly and considered gem quality. A crystal is a pure substance that has its molecules arranged in such a way that it creates a geometric pattern formation in some way. It's actually both yes AND no. A gem is a rare mineral. Others feel wise enough to make the distinction between a rock and a gem – a rock is any old pebble you can find on the street, whereas a crystal is something beautiful and magnificent!ĭespite these superficial understandings of gemology, one of the most common misconceptions occurs when you begin talking about gems and crystals – or is it gems OR crystals? Are these two words synonymous, or is there an actual difference in the verbiage? While some people do use words like rock, stone and gem interchangeably, there are some noticeable differences between these words.
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