crystals of the twilight
SMOKY QUARTZ
Smoky Quartz Origin & Physical Properties
Smoky Quartz is the name given to to Quartz crystals that are transparent to translucent with a smoky brown to grey color, sometimes yellowish-brown and less often nearly black. They form as crystals, druzy and in massive rock form. The colors are caused by natural irradiation that occurred after their formation and traces of aluminum that replaced silicon molecules within the crystal lattice. Smoky Quartz can only form in temperatures below 50 C, thus this process happened after the formation of the crystals, taking millions of years more of exposure to elevated levels of exposure to radiation from the host rocks where they occur.
Smoky Quartz is dichroic, meaning it shows a change of color from a yellow-brown to reddish brown when the two axis’s are exposed to a polarized light. Smoky Quartz is sometimes produced artificially by irradiating clear quartz with gamma rays. These artificially colored crystals often appear a more uniform darker color.
Some valuable varieties of Smoky Quartz include Brandberg Smoky Quartz from Namibia, which often merge with Amethyst colors, exhibit Skeletal growth patterns and contain enhydro pockets, phantoms and other rare formations. Smoky Citrine Quartz is a variety of natural Citrine which usually occurs in a deep brown golden color, often with color banding. Morion, which is a more rare dark brown to black variety of Smoky Quartz which often occurs together with Dolomite.
Category |
Properties |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | SiO2 |
| Mohs Hardness | 7 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Specific Gravity | 2.65 |
| Refractive Index | 1.54-1.55 |
| Fluorescence | Dichroic: yellow-brown to lighter red-brown |
| Crystal System | Hexagonal |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Color | Light yellowish brown to dark smoky grey, black |
| Origin | Brazil, India, Australia, Africa, U.S.A. |
| Chakra | Root (1st), Crown (7th) |
| Zodiac | Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio |
| Element | Earth |
| Metaphysical Effects | Protection, Meditation, Transformation, Confidence, Manifestation, Grounding |
Smoky Quartz Metaphysical Properties
Smoky Quartz crystals have a long history of use for healing purposes dating back too many ancient cultures. It is a stone of power with protective grounding effects. It can help to channel light into the lower densities of our energetic bodies. Smoky Quartz is strongly linked with the Root Chakra (1st) and creates a bridge with the Crown Chakra (7th) to conduct etherial energies into our daily physical lives. Just as Smoky Quartz transmuted radiation into its physical properties to take on its cognac color, so it can absorb and transform negative energies into positive life lessons. It is strongly protective and can act as a shield against outside negative influences.
Work with Smoky Quartz to relieve stress, change negative thinking patterns and chase away the clouds of confusion when they descend. Negative energy passes through the stone and “grounds out” into the Earth where it can dissipate. It is an excellent stone for detoxification and cleansing. Many use Smoky Quartz as a physical protection against electro-smog and the chaos of modern living. It’s a great crystal to keep nearby computers and other electronic devices for this reason.
By firmly placing our feet on the ground and connecting with Earth’s energies, we can anchor ourselves in the immovable and constant state of being that ‘is’. This paves the way for the passage of light into our etheric bodies and only then can we effectively connect with the higher energies circulating through the upper chakras.
Smoky Quartz History & Mythology
Smoky Quartz is the national stone of Scotland it the stone has a legendary history on the British isles. Ancient Druids used the crystals for important ceremonies and rituals believing it acted as a guide for souls in the afterlife. To this day, Scottish Highlanders craft Smoky Quartz into brooches used on their kilts and for ornamental stones on the hilts of their daggers.
In China, around a millennia ago, they carved Smoky Quartz into lenses to shield the eyes, indeed, these were some of the first ‘sun glasses’ crafted by man. Vikings crafted elaborate carvings of Smoky Quartz to be worn as protective medallions. It was considered to be a stone of Buddha throughout many Asian countries.