The World of Quartz Gemstones

Natural Lemon Quartz Gemstone

Quartz gemstones are among the most versatile and widely recognized stones in the world, prized for their beauty, durability, and array of colors. From the clear, transparent brilliance of quartz crystal to the vibrant hues of amethyst and citrine, these gemstones have captured the fascination of collectors, jewelers, and spiritual enthusiasts alike. We have a diverse selection of quartz gemstones for sale.

Natural Amethyst from GemSelect

All quartz is silicon dioxide, but this was not discovered until the early nineteenth century. Prior to that, many different forms of quartz were thought to be distinct minerals.

This is not really surprising, since there are two very different branches of the quartz family. When most people think of quartz stone, they think of what is known as macrocrystalline quartz, which includes rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz and tiger's eye. Macrocrystalline quartz, as the name suggests, has large crystals that can be distinguished by the naked eye. This type of quartz gemstone is mainly transparent to translucent, with a vitreous luster.

Chalcedony from GemSelect

The other type of quartz is known as cryptocrystalline quartz. It has microscopically (or submicroscopically) small crystals and is usually translucent to opaque, with a waxy to greasy or dull luster. This kind of quartz gem has fibrous and granular subcategories. The fibrous varieties are known as chalcedony, but this name covers a remarkable variety of stones.

Natural Onyx

In practice, the name chalcedony refers to solid colored cryptocrystalline quartz, especially of a light color. The patterned varieties tend to have their own names. The most famous of these include agate, distinguished by its bands of color; onyx, which is black and white layered chalcedony (and is usually dyed to produce a uniform black); carnelian, a yellow-orange to reddish-orange type of chalcedony, colored by iron; and chrysoprase, an apple-green variety that is colored by nickle.

Jasper Gemstone

The granular varieties include jasper and bloodstone. Jasper is typically multicolored, spotted or flamed. Especially treasured pieces form patterns that look like natural landscapes. Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, is dark-green with flecks of red, caused by iron oxide.

The range of quartz gemstone varieties is truly impressive, with notable diversity. Agate, in particular, boasts over a dozen distinct types, highly coveted by collectors. These varieties are characterized by charming names such as eye agate, known for its ring shapes with a central point; moss agate, recognized for its moss-like patterns; and fire agate, which showcases a unique iridescence.