Twelve rock crystal facts
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- The transparent colorless variety of quartz is known as rock crystal. Long ago, people believed that rock crystal was a compact form of ice: «Krystallos» actually means «clear ice».
- The name quartz is an old German mining term of unknown meaning that has been in general use since the sixteenth century.
- The oldest water on Earth is over a million years old – and is captured as droplets in rock crystal.
- Quartz is the most common mineral in the earth's crust and as a gem it is also the most commonly used of the minerals.
- Rock crystal does not melt when subjected to intense heat or dissolve in strong acid.
- Using a gazing globe made out of rock crystal, future was foretold by magicians from all over the world.
- Even now many people believe that wearing quartz crystals benefits a person's health and spiritual well being.
- In ancient times and warm climates, great ladies wore jewelry of rock crystal to cool the skin. Rock crystal goblets kept the wine cool. Rich Roman patricians possessed large spheres of rock crystal, which they would touch to cool their hands.
- The Chinese believed that rock crystal quenched thirst when held in the mouth.
- Theophrasus, a pupil of Aristotle, thought that rock crystal was ice that had been permanently frozen by extreme temperatures. This is how rock crystal quartz came to be called “crystal.” The Greek word krystallos means ice.
- The mining of rock crystal is clean, unlike coal or iron. The Earth is not damaged by it.
- Renaissance philosophers were fascinated with rock crystal, both as a marvel of Nature and a symbol of the divine order of the universe.
