Photo of Smoky Quartz in Processed & Rough Form
Smoky Quartz is a mineral with a hardness of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness [?]. These Trigonally structured gems are made of silicon dioxide, their full chemical compound being SiO2.
Smoky or Brown Quartz is a commonly occurring quartz mineral that gets it's name from the smoky or cloudy interior.
A well polished piece of yellowish smoky quartz may appear like amber, while a well cut one may look similar to a brown tourmaline or andalusite.
With a Mohs hardness of 7 quartz in general is well suited for jewelry as it will hold a facet or edge fairly well.
Variations called Morion (black) and Cairngorm (smoky) have been found in large deposits throughout the world.
The specific gravity [?] for Smoky Quartz is 2.65, its refractive index [?] is 1.54-1.55, and its double refraction [?] is 0.009.
History
Smoky Quartz has been used as a healing stone, and in many rituals throughout the ages. It has been thought by many to contain mystical properties.
Quartz has been used to make arrow and spear heads in the ancient past.
Industrial Usages
Quartz is used to create silicone chips in wafer form. Quartz is used in glass making.
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