Crystals are mostly formed in the depths of the earth, and they have many varieties. Crystal has always attracted people’s attention with its beautiful appearance and mysterious crystal. Because of this, since ancient times, crystal has made great contributions to enhance our spiritual outlook and improve our quality of life.
The Geology of Crystal
Minerals are inorganic materials naturally formed inside the earth.The same minerals have the same chemical molecular formula and crystal structure.They are the most stable material form in the universe.
Crystal Formation
The first cause of crystal formation is the movement of the earth’s crust, just like the collision and extrusion of crust plates on the liquid rock mantle, causing the hydrothermal fluids and high-temperature gases rich in various elements to move quickly to the surface. When these gases and liquids cool, they often crystallize. Factors such as temperature, pressure, surrounding rock, and elemental mixing all affect the crystals that crystallize in a particular place. The crystals and rocks formed in this way are usually called igneous or magma-derived.
The second way of crystal formation is called sedimentation. If conjoined crystals and rocks are exposed to wind, frost, rain, and snow, they will begin to corrode, and small pieces will be washed into rivers and oceans to form mineral sand. After millions of years of high pressure, the ore sand is compressed, producing sedimentary rocks and minerals. Due to the relatively low temperature and pressure of formation, minerals formed in sedimentary origin are usually harder than minerals formed from magma. Obsidian is derived from the rapid cooling of volcanic lava.
The third way of crystal formation is metamorphism. This is because magmatic minerals and sedimentary minerals are once again subjected to the high temperature and high pressure of the crustal movement. Although the mineral particles will not be melted, they will be reacted again and combined into new crystals. The earth’s crust is in continuous movement, and this process of crystallization is also continuing. We usually only see mineral deposits or veins containing crystals exposed near the surface due to erosion or uplifting.
Crystal Systems
The formation of crystals can remain unchanged for millions of years. This is because the atomic structure of the crystals is stable and orderly, which is usually called a lattice. The orderly arrangement and repetition of this kind of crystal lattice spreads over the entire crystal, so that all crystals of the same mineral present the same geometric form and maintain the same angle of intersection between the same crystal faces. No matter the size of the crystal is large or small, the surface is smooth as a mirror or dark and rough, this precise repetition never changes. The external shape of a crystal is a reaction of its internal atomic structure. The shape of the crystal has an important influence on the magical and healing functions of the crystal.
The crystal lattice structure can be divided into seven types. If different minerals are of the same crystal lattice type, their basic crystal forms are similar. However, due to the changeable crystallization conditions, the shape of the crystal is rarely as simple at a glance. However, if you examine it carefully, you will find certain identifying features, such as the hexagonal cross-section of crystals or emeralds.
Crystal lattice Patterns
Cubic
Cube lattice, most of these crystals can be seen interspersed with crystals, and a single cube is rarely seen.
Examples: garnet, pyrite, sodalite, diamond, rock salt, fluorite and natural copper, etc.
Energy characteristics: release stress and encourage creativity
Tetragonal
The shape of this lattice is similar to the bottom-to-bottom connection of two pyramids, with the feeling of being stretched between the high and low points.
Examples: pyramidal fisheye, zircon, rutile and chalcopyrite
Energy characteristics: balance and coordination
Orthorhombic
It is shaped like a squashed matchbox with unequal sides.
Examples: flake topaz, olivine, topaz and lapis lazuli
Energy characteristics: connect and facilitate information exchange
Trigonal
The crystal shape of this lattice is similar to the diamond shape and the prismatic cylindrical shape.
Examples: sapphires, crystals, tourmalines and rubies
Energy characteristics: excitation and fixation
Monoclinic
Shaped like a slender and flattened matchbox.
Example: Permeable gypsum and spodumene
Energy characteristics: mood swings and insight
Hexagonal
Shaped like a hexagonal prism
Examples: Aquamarine, crystal, emerald and apatite
Energy characteristics: organization and support
Triclinic
This crystal format is the most variable, and there is no fixed ratio of face angle to side length.
Examples: platy kyanite, labradorite and boronite
Energy characteristics: openness and protection
Tips of Buying Crystals
Pay attention to the original mineralogical names of the gemstones
When you buy stones, you should try to understand their original mineralogical names, so that you can know exactly what you are buying. It is easy to make mistakes and mark the wrong gems. Even gem shop owners can make such mistakes. So it is necessary to take some time to learn the typical crystal types and colors of gems.
What to look for
The size and appearance of the crystal are irrelevant. Its internal composition and crystal structure are the reason for its unique healing effect.
Therefore, for crystal healing, it doesn’t matter whether a crystal is big, beautiful or small and worn. The visible shape of the stone has far less influence on the healing effect than its invisible atomic lattice.
Common Forms of Crystal
Mineral Specimen
Mineral specimen Mineral crystals or various minerals are mined on the surrounding rock or as they were discovered.
Crystal Cluster
Crystal cluster Multiple crystals grow on the same surrounding rock. Crystal clusters, especially amethyst caves, are the most popular. They can keep positive energy in one space and purify other stones.
Single Crystal
Single crystal It can be distinguished by its geometry. Single crystals have specific crystal faces, face angles and pointed ends. Single crystals usually fall off from the harder surrounding rock.
Tumbled Stones
Cobblestone Stones with low grades or damaged crystals are water-etched pebbles that look round after being polished by a roller. This can improve the color and luster of the stone. This relatively cheap crystal is easy to place on the body and becomes the first choice for crystal healing.
Processed Gems
Processed gems Stones that have been cut, shaped and polished, cut and polished from large pieces into massage sticks, balls, flakes, or easy-to-place conformal shapes, etc., used for decoration and healing, and cut into faceted or curved gems is also like this.
Caring For Your Crystals
Although the crystals look strong, they actually need to be handled carefully and handled gently.
- Stones with low hardness will be scratched by stones with high hardness, so they must be separated.
- Go to the hardware store to find lightly compartmentalized collection boxes, and fill each compartment with soft paper.
- Don’t use a box that is too big, it will be heavy once filled with rocks.
- Even very hard stones can be very brittle. Don’t knock the crystals against each other.
- The crystal head is easily damaged, so you should be careful when touching or storing it.
- Do not expose the crystal to strong light or an environment with drastic temperature changes. Under strong light, its color will fade, and drastic temperature changes will cause cracks in some crystals.
- Do not place the crystals that have been ground into a ball in direct sunlight, as they may be concentrated and catch fire under certain circumstances.
Gemstone Mineralogy Information
Mohs hardness
The mineral hardness classification standard comes from the mineral hardness classification method proposed by German mineralogist Friedrich Moss in 1812 (as shown in the table below). This method divides the hardness of minerals into 10 grades, and each grade has a corresponding test With mineral spar, you can test the hardness of your spar by these standards. For example, if a spar can stroke fluorite, and it can be stroked by apatite, then the Mohs hardness of this spar is between 4-5.
1（Softest）————Talc
2—————————-Plaster
3—————————-Calcite
4—————————-Fluorite
5—————————-Appetite
6—————————————Orthoclase
7—————————————Quartz
8—————————————Topaz
9—————————————Corundum
10 (Hardest )———————–Diamond
Classification of natural crystals
At present, apart from the internationally unified grading standard for diamonds, there is no internationally unified grading standard for any other gemstones, and there is no authoritative grading agency for grading. The AA grades marked on the market are all set by the merchants. Buyers think that the more A, the better. Therefore, the buyer does not look at the quality of the material itself, but only buys the amount of A. Grade A crystals are only used in the industry, but there is no uniform standard. Crystals of the same quality have different grades set by different businesses, and the number of A grades is also different, and there is no organization to assign you what grade it belongs to. Therefore, the key to buying crystals is to shop around and see the quality of the crystals.
Since many businesses in the market still like to use crystal grading to illustrate the quality of crystals, in order to facilitate consumers to understand, the author has collected a reference crystal grading standard.
| Grade AA | The entire crystal is transparent and flawless, and there are no visible artifacts on the surface. |
| Grade A1 | Has very slight flaws, or small natural inclusions. |
| Grade A | Has slight blemishes, and clouds and lint are easy to see with the naked eye. |
| Grade AB | Has large cloud-like inclusions, small cracks, and small scratches on the surface. |
| Grade B | More than half of the B-grade crystals are clouds and inclusions, with large cracks and small cracks on the surface. |
| Grade C | The overall appearance is cloud-like, with obvious hidden cracks, and obvious cracks on the surface, which seem to be broken at any time. |
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