Before we begin the Basic Crystal Users Course, let’s get the vocabulary
straight so we communicate clearly. Maybe you all understand what is
meant by the words: crystal, mineral, rock, and stone, and you may well
know why there are so many confusing names for them. If so, good. If not,
let’s review and all agree.
W hat i s a "c rys tal"?
Crystals are natural or man-made samples of
minerals that are either transparent or, if not
transparent, are varieties of minerals with
external planar faces (flat sides). A clear quartz
crystal is an example of the transparent type of
crystal. A pyrite cube is an example of the
second type.
Crystals do not normally have names, although
some do. Most are just called by their mineral
variety name: a quartz crystal, an amethyst crystal, etc. The ones with
names are generally specific forms of quartz crystals such as Lemurian
crystal, Timeline, or such. There is no established list of crystal names.
Many of the specialized names of quartz crystals are found at the Crystal
Vaults Guide to Quartz Crystals A to Z.
OK, a crystal is a sample of a mineral but...
W hat i s a "min eral"?
The word “mineral” refers to a non-organic (did not originate from a living
organism) substances naturally occurring in nature as a solid, with a
definite chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure of
molecules. An example of minerals is such things as iron, quartz, carbon,
beryl, etc. All of these substances occur in nature as a solid, with a definite
chemical composition and an orderly crystalline structure of molecules.
A pearl is not a mineral, it comes from an organic source - an oyster.
Amber is not a mineral, it originated from a now extinct tree. Oxygen is not
a mineral, it is not found naturally as a solid. Glass is not a mineral, it has
no crystalline structure. Granite is not a mineral. It is a mixture of minerals
such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is a rock.
There is an established, universally accepted list of minerals and their
common varieties. They all have formal, universally accepted names given
to them by the International Mineralogical Society. You can find all the real
names and the descriptions of them at a wonderful, authoritative Web
site, Mindat. You can find the common trade names and varieties of these
minerals there too.
W hat i s a "ro c k"?
A rock is a is an aggregate of one or more minerals (and maybe some
organic compounds). There is no approved list of rock names. New ones
seem to pop up constantly.
W hat i s a "s to n e"?
The word "stone" is a slang word that can mean a rock or a mineral
specimen that is not a crystal.
But while these definitions are helpful, knowing them does not completely
help us sort out the myriad of trade names for crystals, minerals, and
rocks. Some that are established varieties of known minerals are listed on
Mindat such as Quartz, Rose Quartz, Larimar, Emerald, etc. But much of
what is in the crystal market is not found on Mindat. Things such as Boji
Stones, Lemurian Crystals, Colombian Amber, Azeztulite, and many more
are just rocks with pretty names someone gave them or trade names for
otherwise common minerals.
The solution is to ask a single question when you are faced with a new
name of a crystal or stone: Ask if it is a variety of a mineral and if so what
mineral, or if it is a rock?
If you can determine that it is a variety of a mineral then you can learn
about it by going to [Link] and looking up the mineral. If it is a rock,
then you know that you must be careful, because anyone can name a rock
anything they want.
So, for example, you will find "quartz" is a mineral, and "rose quartz" is a
variety of quartz by going to Mindat and searching for them. But go to
Mindat and search for "Bolderite" and you will find nothing. That is because
"Bolderite" is a just a pretty blue/green/white rock I found in my backyard
last week that is an indistinguishable combination of a lot of minerals. And
"Bolderite" is my name for it.
I can claim anything I want to about Bolderite, should I wish to. If I set up a
website, bolderite,com, and told some interesting stories about it and
explained how it helps me sleep, I am free to do so. Mindat will not have
anything listed about "bolderite" because it isn’t a mineral or a recognized
variety, it is just some rock.
There are many such examples on the Internet
and in books. But, if you always ask "Is this a
mineral variety or a rock?" you will be able to
sort out such things as "Rose Quartz" or
"Bolderite" or any other name you come across.
Here is a shortcut. The Crystal Inner Circle has 15 forums in which you can
simply post a question, and one of our 150 experts will help. There is no
rock, mineral, variety, or trade name they cannot sort out for you.
Crystals are specimens of minerals. There is an approved list of minerals.
They all have formal, universally accepted names given to them by the
International Mineralogical Society. You can find all the real names and the
descriptions of them at [Link]. What is equally important is that you
can find the varieties and the common trade names for these minerals
there too.
What about my new discovery "bolderite"? Nothing on Mindat? Then you
know it is a trade name or brand name of something, and you need to learn
more before you buy or use it.
If you learn to use [Link] you can be an informed crystal user and
know what is going on when someone tells you about some new crystal or
stone with a big price tag.
Oh, here is one last note: often to confuse you, common minerals and
rocks are given trade name with the addition of a trademark. If you see the
little TM next to a name of a crystal, or stone you can be sure it is a brand
or trade name for some mineral or a rock, and not a unique mineral variety.
Go to [Link] and find out what it is. Just like the prescription industry,
generic versions of minerals and crystals work the same regardless of the
brand or trade name they are sold under.
In short, sort out the names of crystals, minerals, and trade names using
Mindat or the Crystal Inner Circle forums. Know what you are looking at,
buying, or using.
By the way, this is a never-ending effort. We find new crystals and stones
constantly. The marketplace is very vibrant. For example, we just stumbled
on Prophecy Stone the other day.
BUYING CRYSTALS
Moving on, we are next going to learn how to actually buy a crystal and
know we have an authentic one and that we have paid a fair price.