Quartz

Quartz is one of the most widespread minerals in the world, but the value of Quartz is determined by clarity, location, size and inclusions. Several varieties of Quartz have been used as semi precious gemstones and set into jewellery for hundreds of years. Some Quartz crystals also have the ability to generate electricity when hit, known as being piezoelectric. Quartz is used in many everyday things we own, such as clocks and many electrical devices.

Clear Quartz is one that probably has the most stories surrounding it of any crystal. Due to the fact it can be found all over the world, almost every ancient civilisation have incorporated it into their legends. The Greeks believed, along with many other ancient peoples, that Quartz crystals were in fact frozen water, and believed this "eternal ice" to have come down from Mount Olympus where the Gods lived.

In the lost city of Atlantis, huge Quartz crystals were said to have been used as generators to create power for the city, and the abuse of these crystals eventually proved to be their downfall. The lost civilisation of Lemuria lived underground, in fear of the giants that lived on the surface, and used Quartz crystals to provide light to grow their crops in caves. Before their demise, the people of Lemuria were said to have programmed their knowledge into quartz crystals for later humanity to find and use. These crystals are known as Lemurian Crystals.

The ancient Japanese and Chinese regarded the Quartz crystal as the perfect gem, and regarded carved crystal balls as the heart of a dragon, the symbol of creation. The use of these crystal balls is thought to date back to Buddhist altars, who included Quartz spheres on them as an "invocation of visible nothingness" - showing the duality between material and spirit worlds. Since then, gazing into these spheres has been used as a window to different times and places.