Crystal stones and crystals

There are many different ways of approaching crystals and there are different ways of identifying them. Below you will find a list of the basic forms of Crystal Stones and Crystals that can be easily purchased.

Rough

This type of crystal is rough because it is exactly as it has been taken from the ground, there may or may not be points or terminations. They may have a dirty appearance and be very oddly shaped. Unless you find your own or visit an area where crystals are abundant, you are not likely to see these very often.

Tumbled
These rough crystals have been put through an abrasive process that wears away at the sharp edges and rough surfaces to make a smooth and polished stone. These are used in jewelry as well as in healing. They are easily obtainable.

Clusters
These are pieces of crystal that have several points attached to them, often on a piece of rock called a substrate. They may be part of a geode, which is a stone with a hollow Center. These consist of crystals on its inside and stones on the outside. They can vary in size from very small to very, very large. Common ones include Clear Quartz and Amethyst, (the purple quartz). Clusters can also be double sided with crystals pointing in all directions.

Points

These are also referred to as terminated crystals. They are naturally occurring crystals with a point on one or sometimes both ends. They have normally been broken off at the base. They can be of broad size and range from millimeters to metres. Again, the common ones are from the Quartz family, however many other crystal types produce terminated crystals. Certain types of crystal never or very rarely produce terminated forms; these include Rose Quartz and Turquoise.

Missives
These are natural lumps of crystal which are of a type that has un-terminated lumps as a common form. An example is a raw piece of Rose Quartz; in this case, the edges can be very sharp so always handle with care.

Cut and Polished
These are normally the quality stones used to make jewelry They can however also be used in healing. Some people may argue that their clarity provides a stronger influence, others that they are not natural and should not be used. each to their own ideas.

The crystal stones and crystals are normally cut to specific patterns depending on the shape of the setting and the type of crystal. The angles between the faces are of great importance as the internal reflection of light they create increases the brilliance of the stone. The most sought after cut stone is the Diamond, which in its natural raw state is not very prepossessing. Many other types of crystals are cut and polished. Just look in any jeweler’s window to see Amethyst, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire and others. The quality of the crystals used for cutting are normally the clearest and least flawed and are known as quality gems.

Clear or Opaque

Not really, a crystal form but the difference can create a certain amount of confusion. The quality of crystals and gemstones can vary enormously, even from the same batch, not taking into account different mines and different countries. The result is that there is a complete range of quality stones from clear crystal to very opaque. The other variable is the color. Many crystals can vary a great deal, providing many different colors as well as a large range of hues within the same color.