Gem Profile- Smoky Quartz
When macrocrystalline quartz is colored or tinted in shades of gray or brown, it is called smoky quartz. These gray shades can be very pale through grayed yellow-brown with or without reddish tints, dark charcoal colored or nearly black and almost opaque.
Smoky quartz commonly forms in vugs within pegmatite veins.
It appears in masses or color-zoned crystals that sometimes grade toward amethyst or citrine.
These crystals range from thin druzy crusts to giants weighing nearly half a ton.
You can also find smoky quartz near water-clear quartz or amethyst, or inside geodes.
The smoky coloration comes from inclusions of aluminum, calcium, lithium, or magnesium.
Natural radiation contributes to the color too.
Many "black" stones on the market are artificially irradiated smoky quartz.
Irradiated smoky quartz crystal wire wrapped by Susan Mazlum and accented with crystal beads.
It appears in masses or color-zoned crystals that sometimes grade toward amethyst or citrine.
These crystals range from thin druzy crusts to giants weighing nearly half a ton.
You can also find smoky quartz near water-clear quartz or amethyst, or inside geodes.
The smoky coloration comes from inclusions of aluminum, calcium, lithium, or magnesium.
Natural radiation contributes to the color too.
Many "black" stones on the market are artificially irradiated smoky quartz.
Irradiated smoky quartz crystal wire wrapped by Susan Mazlum and accented with crystal beads.
A few smoky quartz beads and one of the large smoky quartz stones in Dale's collection.
and
Smoky quartz ring wire wrapped in sterling silver by Joe Peterson.
and
Smoky quartz ring wire wrapped in sterling silver by Joe Peterson.
In Scotland, rich caramel yellowish-brown smoky quartz carries the title "cairngorm."
It has been mined in the Cairngorm Mountains and serves as Scotland's national stone.
Early Scots wore cairngorm jewelry as a form of money, since they avoided carrying coins.
It also created Scottish "pebble" jewelry, a mosaic of precious metal and native stones.
Naturally black, almost opaque smoky quartz is called "morion."
Dark, lustrous smoky quartz from Switzerland is known as "Alpine."
In Brazil, smoky quartz mixes with citrine.
The smoky quartz often turns yellow when heated during formation, like ametrine.
Sometimes, the original smoky crystal stays smoky, while yellow quartz over it creates a phantom.
Jackie Morris wire wrapped this smoky quartz stone with sterling silver wire.
It has been mined in the Cairngorm Mountains and serves as Scotland's national stone.
Early Scots wore cairngorm jewelry as a form of money, since they avoided carrying coins.
It also created Scottish "pebble" jewelry, a mosaic of precious metal and native stones.
Naturally black, almost opaque smoky quartz is called "morion."
Dark, lustrous smoky quartz from Switzerland is known as "Alpine."
In Brazil, smoky quartz mixes with citrine.
The smoky quartz often turns yellow when heated during formation, like ametrine.
Sometimes, the original smoky crystal stays smoky, while yellow quartz over it creates a phantom.
Jackie Morris wire wrapped this smoky quartz stone with sterling silver wire.
Faceted bi-colored, smoky-citrine stones that are waiting for me to do something with them. Notice the unusual smoky striations and fading color in those on the left.
Quartz breaks into razor-sharp pieces.
Paleo-Indians or Clovis people, living 13,000 to 14,000 years ago, used smoky quartz for tools and weapons.
Artifact #154 on the NOVA page shows a beautiful smoky quartz spear point.
Ancient Romans carved smoky quartz into official seals using intaglio.
Sumerians and Chinese made snuff bottles and small statues from it for home and ritual use.
Today, smoky quartz creates carvings and statues.
This smoky Buddha belongs to my daughter's collection, along with whiskey quartz stones.
Paleo-Indians or Clovis people, living 13,000 to 14,000 years ago, used smoky quartz for tools and weapons.
Artifact #154 on the NOVA page shows a beautiful smoky quartz spear point.
Ancient Romans carved smoky quartz into official seals using intaglio.
Sumerians and Chinese made snuff bottles and small statues from it for home and ritual use.
Today, smoky quartz creates carvings and statues.
This smoky Buddha belongs to my daughter's collection, along with whiskey quartz stones.
Marketing names for smoky quartz imitate its color, like whiskey quartz.
Natural whiskey quartz resembles Scottish cairngorm, but affordable pieces are often heat-treated to cherry wood color.
Root beer quartz looks like a brown beer bottle.
"Smoky topaz" is not legal, since topaz and quartz differ.
The mix-up arose from smoky quartz found near topaz in Scotland.
Topaz costs more and is softer, while smoky quartz stays affordable, durable, and beautiful.
A variety of faceted smoky quartz stones, some bi-color with water quartz. Private collection, Dale Armstrong.
Natural whiskey quartz resembles Scottish cairngorm, but affordable pieces are often heat-treated to cherry wood color.
Root beer quartz looks like a brown beer bottle.
"Smoky topaz" is not legal, since topaz and quartz differ.
The mix-up arose from smoky quartz found near topaz in Scotland.
Topaz costs more and is softer, while smoky quartz stays affordable, durable, and beautiful.
A variety of faceted smoky quartz stones, some bi-color with water quartz. Private collection, Dale Armstrong.
A close-up of the faceted stone in the above photo, showng the detail of the flower intaglio. Private collection, Dale Armstrong
Did you know that fortune tellers often use crystal balls made from smoky quartz? Metaphysically, smoky quartz is supposed to provide grounding for all endeavors and to negate negative energy.
Susan Hironaka wire wrapped these smoky quartz crystal points in 14kt gold filled wire and accented them with freshwater pearls.
The huge smoky crystal that sits next to my work space, hoping to divert any negative energy and to keep me "grounded"!
The huge smoky crystal that sits next to my work space, hoping to divert any negative energy and to keep me "grounded"!
Most smoky quartz on today's market comes from Brazil and Madagascar.
Other notable deposits exist in Switzerland, Scotland, and Russia.
In the United States, richly colored smoky quartz appears in Colorado's Pike's Peak pegmatites.
It is also mined in Idaho and found in Montana, California, Utah, Maine, and North Carolina.
Smoky quartz from Arkansas is usually heated milky or clear quartz.
Other notable deposits exist in Switzerland, Scotland, and Russia.
In the United States, richly colored smoky quartz appears in Colorado's Pike's Peak pegmatites.
It is also mined in Idaho and found in Montana, California, Utah, Maine, and North Carolina.
Smoky quartz from Arkansas is usually heated milky or clear quartz.
Resources
Print Resources:
Love is in the Earth by Melody, ISBN 0-9628190-3-4
Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann, ISBN 0-8069-8570-4
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9
Print Resources:
Love is in the Earth by Melody, ISBN 0-9628190-3-4
Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann, ISBN 0-8069-8570-4
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9
Materials
Wire
Smoky Quartz 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-455
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $8.08
- Gold Club Price: $6.06
Smoky Quartz 10x14mm Oval Cabochon - Pack of 2
E8-17B
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $6.67
- Gold Club Price: $5.00
Smoky Quartz 18x25mm Rectangle Cabochon
E8-17Q
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $6.67
- Gold Club Price: $5.00
Smoky Quartz 30x40mm Oval Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-460
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $17.97
- Gold Club Price: $13.48
Smoky Quartz 8mm Round Large Hole Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-661
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $15.75
- Gold Club Price: $11.81
WireJewelry Smoky Quartz Rough - Large Natural Gemstones in 1.5 LB Bag
E6-111R
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- Price: $18.13
- Gold Club Price: $13.60
Smoky Quartz Beads
Smoky Quartz Smoky
Tools
Bench Tools
WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
- G15-20
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $170.72
- Gold Club Price: $128.04
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- Category: General Education
- Technique(s): General Education
Dale Armstrong
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