Clear/Crystal (Quartz)

Color: clear
Moh’s Hardness: 7
Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553
Critical Angle: 40.49°
Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.65
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal
Dispersion: Medium (.013)
Heat Sensitivity: Can be... but is usually not a problem
Dichroism: none
Birefringence (double refraction): Weak (.009)
Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Treatments: Generally none.

What I prefer to polishing with: Cerium oxide with a Spectra Ultralap.

Jeff's Comments: Cuts and polishes like any other Quartz, usually no problems... I like to use a 1200 Nu Bond lap for pre-polish, it makes the polishing stage faster and easier. Orientating on the "c" is slightly better.

Design Notes: About any Quartz design will work well. As the rough gets more saturated, I prefer checker boards and bar cuts. I prefer to cut large clear Quartz, they are actually pretty impressive, especially for material that costs almost nothing.

Design Links:
4-Way Stop - This is great for saturated rough if you have a piece that will work in the shape...
Be Still My Heart - Good in about any Quartz
CheckMate - Neat in medium color Quartz
Light House - Nice in any Quartz
Utopia - Classic Barion pear

Rough Links:
Quartz - Index of Quartz Rough
Amethyst - Maraba, Brazilian, African
Amethyst 2 - Uruguayan Points
Amethyst 3 - Large Uruguayan Points
Amethyst 4 - Irai area Amethyst "Siberian" color
Amethyst 5 - Large Maraba Amethyst
Ametrine - Bolivian Ametrine, sawed preforms
Citrine - Maraba, Brazilian, Madagascar
Citrine 2 - Uruguayan points
Citrine 3 - Large Uruguayan points
Citrine 4 - Irai area Citrine
Citrine 5 - Ox Blood Citrine
Clear Quartz - Optical Quartz slabs, colorless
Misc - Oro Verde, Whiskey, Lemon, Honey
Prasiolite - Green Quartz
Rose Quartz - Madagascar, Whispering Pines
Rose Quartz 2 - Top quality Madagascar rose Quartz
Rose de France - Pale Amethyst
Smokey Quartz - Smokey/grey

Bargain Links:
Amethyst Bargains

Return to Quartz Information Index

E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com