Gemstone Series --- Druzy Quartz

History and Lore: There is not 100% agreement regarding the exact origins of the name Quartz, but the two most widely accepted opinions are that the word Quartz is derived from the Greek 'krystallos', meaning “ice”, or the German 'quarz'. Some of the earliest primitive tools fashioned by man some 2.5 million years ago, and discovered in the Omo valley in Ethiopia were made of Quartz. It is believed that Quartz was used because of its hardness and isotropic brittleness that made the fashioning of the tools relatively easy. Chipped flint projectile points used for fire-making have been found on Mousterian sites in western Europe that date back around 40,000 years. In addition to its use in tool-making, certain varieties of Quartz were used for divination. Spherical Quartz rock crystals were often shaped into crystal balls and used for disease diagnosis and awareness of events occurring in distant places. More recently there was major production of synthetic Quartz during World War II. This synthetic Quartz was used to supply crystals for radios.

Today, Quartz is not only used for gemstone purposes, but also as a raw chemical ingredient in the manufacturing of abrasives, cements, concrete, porcelain, glass, and many other industrial materials. Because of its piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties, Quartz is commonly used in the production of watches, clocks, computers, and radios. Drusy Quartz is believed to energize and stabilize both your body and aura well promoting creativity.

Drusy Quartz is rated at 7 on the Moh's Scale of Hardness and is best suited for pendants, brooches, and earrings rather then rings and bracelets because of the concern of the Drusy being detached.

Drusy's are gemstones with a natural surface texture much like fine sugar crystals that formed on the Quartz by the phenomena of micro-crystalline facets millions of years ago. Drusy crystals went unnoticed in the jewelry world until recently, when they began appearing in the work of noted carvers and jewelry designers. The appeal is now starting to grow for Drusy Quartz jewelry as it displays a multitude of tiny crystals with a reflective surface reminiscent of sugar or snow.

The size and evenness of the crystal coverage are both important value factors when determining the quality and worth of Drusy Quartz items.

My new favorite stone!!!