Clear as spring water from the Himalayas, the rock crystal, Sphatikam in Sanskrit, is probably one of the most auspicious crystals to be found on Mother Earth. It isn't necessarily the easiest task to describe its attributes with words. The simple, colorless, glass transparent and cool to touch stone has fascinated the human eye for over a 1,000 years and will continue to do so through posterity.
Being simple silica in composition, SiO2, by far, is the single most composition, found in abundance on the Planet. All though all the silica need not be from Rock Crystal only, it could also be the secondary deposit of Siliceous nature.
Occurring in Hexagonal Habit with a sharp termination some times Both Ends, the Rock crystal is the Humblest of all crystals, however the reverence it commands is legendary. The magnitude of its meta physical properties is acknowledged by Modern Science, Occult, Spiritual and Yogic sciences. Reiki masters would be helpless with out its existence. The use of Crystal lenses, mirrors, Prisms, Pyramids, Wand, etc needs no special mention as it is due to its wholesale appeal to "Energy Specialist" and Gurus.
Single Termination (Point), Double termination (Double Point) and Twin Crystals are the most sought after Specimens in the kingdom of crystals.
The heavy String of 108 Beads have adorned some of the ultimate Seers ever to tread on this planet. The cool (sheetal) caress of Rock crystal Beads (6-20 mm) on the skin even during summers defy all logic known to man. The absence of Crystal cleavage lines makes the crystal strong and although brittle to impact, lends it the compact and apparently unbreakable endurance.
Collectors attempt to get Rock crystal carvings and Trinkets.The Rutilated Quartz Items are a rage.Some Smokey Quartz are being reported to occur with Cognate water trapped in the structure.
Special applications like,crystal ball,energy wand, and Lenses are much in demand. Scientifically the Rock crystal wedges make great oscillators.The crystal was also used to make electronic wrist/clock watches called quartz watches.
High temperature Crystals call Trydimite and Christobalite are used in Sophisticated Scientific Research to this day.
Rock crystal occurs in many places on the face of the earth, African Countries, Europe, U.S, Brazil, Madagascar, India (Himalayas) to name a few.A quick visit to the local museum would present,in most,would throw up a grand opportunity to see and cherish the various applications,in which the Rock Crystal has been used.From Fine carved Wine Glasses to beautiful Jewelery Boxes,and gold inlay-ed objects of Beauty.It is rare to see a Pink/Rose colored Rock Crystal,single or double terminated,however they are not impossible.As for Golden Rutilated and Tremolitic Rock crystal are a rage.
With its Mohs scale of hardness being 7,it is fairly easy to grind/cut as compared to say Rubies or Diamond for that matter. It lends itself to excellent Tumbled stones or Polishing techniques. All though most of the crystals being Medium sized, large 80-120 Kg Pieces are not so uncommon. I have had the opportunity to see and Touch a 60 Kg Rock crystal, Mayru Sriyantram.The cutter Lacchuram Verma of Jaipur took all of 3 Months to carve and polish this giant Mayru and the price! Priceless.
About this Author
I am an ardent Gem cutter and also the Head of the department of Gems and Jewellery Department at Queen's school of design, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
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