rock crystal, or just plain crystal, it comes with many names and varieties
Quartz is the
second most
common mineral
in the earth's
crust. What's
number one?
Read on!
Crystal points,
crystal clusters,
clear quartz,
milky quartz
How many kinds can you name?
Index to Quartz
Digging
Cleaning
Worth
Fee Pay Mines
Types
Forms
Inclusions
Geology
Mineralogy
Synthetic
Gemstones
Handedness
Experiments
QUARTZ CRYSTAL is such a significant part of rockhounding in Arkansas that we are presenting you many and varied articles for you to browse. Before you say "Oh no, *another* table of contents", we just want you to be aware of just how interesting all the many aspects of quartz can be, and we'll let you choose where to begin.
I have heard many people say that quartz is the most abundant mineral on earth. That statement should be qualified somewhat. The earth as we are able to see and collect from it largely consists of the crust....that thin skin that floats on the plastic mantle and metallic core. As such it is volumetrically insignificant compared to the total volume of the earth. To qualify any statement concerning a mineral's abundance we need to realize we don't often see much of what is deeper in the earth than the crust. With that in mind, I refer you to a quote from the Handbook of Gem Identification by Richard T. Liddicoat, Jr., page 199, that says "Quartz, the most common single mineral, includes so many varieties ..." Certainly then, quartz in its many varieties is the most common mineral exposed on the continents, and let's face it, that is where most of us collect!
Whether you dig your crystals yourself, or silver pick from the shops, you'll find an amazing array of quartz crystals from Arkansas.
WE ARE PLEASED to announce a companion book to our website is available, called Collecting Crystals, the Guide to Quartz in Arkansas. It is an expanded and in-depth look at collecting quartz, with detailed information on sites, plus much more.
It's dirty, it's messy, and it's fun! How to dig your own quartz crystals, whether you are digging in Arkansas or anywhere else.
Getting the clay and iron stains off, and building contraptions for Really Cleaning your crystals. 
Valuing a crystal using both objective and subjective measures. It's a tricky job.
A list of places to dig your own crystals; you'll find the best and showiest quartz crystals at one of these mines. You pay an entrance fee and keep what you find. Some mines are by appointment only.
There are many types of quartz, such as bubble quartz, smoky, phantom etc. This page is an overview of the varieties you can find, with photos and text on additional pages. Coontail Quartz
Not the strict crystallography term, but habits and growth patterns exhibited by quartz, such as twins, burs, tabulars, faddens, etc.
Inclusions are other minerals found inside quartz crystals. Some are lovely, others have mud in them, you can find many things captured by quartz.
A geological explanation of occurences of quartz in the state of Arkansas.
Although quartz has a unique structure, so do many other minerals. That in combination with the chemistry is what makes a mineral a mineral.
Scientists have learned how to grow their own crystals in the laboratory. Short article with photos.
Part one; Gemstones from the colorless, clear variety of quartz known as rock crystal.
Part 2; Colored varieties of quartz gemstones, including amethyst, citrine and others.
This is crystallography. You can learn the different ways crystals look.
Experiments with Quartz Crystals
Tribolumenescence and piezoelectricity.
Contact the authors of Rockhounding Arkansas Revised Sep. 2005
©Rockhounding Arkansas 1998 http://rockhoundingAR.com