SiO₂
Rock crystal
Colourless quartz, hardness 7, the same chemistry as amethyst with the colour left out.
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- white
- Element
- aether
- Chakra (tradition)
- crown
- Zodiac
- Leo, Gemini, Capricorn
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- Brazil, Madagascar, Switzerland
What it actually is
Rock crystal is SiO₂ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 7, and the eye meets white.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Brazil, Madagascar, Switzerland. Colourless quartz, hardness 7, the same chemistry as amethyst with the colour left out.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Rock crystal to aether and to the crown centre. The old site stood it near: Leo, Gemini, Capricorn.
How not to turn it to ash
Quartz will take lukewarm water and a cloth. Long sun fades amethyst and rose quartz. Perfume is a worse neighbour than dust.