Rock Crystal

Rock crystal is a mineral, pure natural silicon dioxide, a colorless, transparent type of quartz , one of the crystalline modifications of silica (SiO2). Pure, defect-free rock crystal crystals are relatively rare and highly prized. Crystals ranging in size from 3-5 cm are of practical importance. Twin crystals are characteristic according to several twin laws. Aggregates in the form of irregular intergrowths of crystals and druses, geodes, crystal "brushes". Rock crystal is a kind of quartz , the most widespread trace element of the Earth. The varieties of this mineral include smoky crystal - rauchtopaz , yellow crystal - citrine , rose quartz - amethyst , black translucent rock crystal crystals called morion.

Found mainly in the voids of hydrothermal veins, most industrial depositsand finds of large crystals - in crystal veins of the "Alpine type". It is also found in cavities of pegmatite veins and contact-metamorphic deposits of various types. It is very common in sedimentary rocks, but does not form large crystals, but is in the form of crystal brushes on the walls of cracks and in the form of geodes, mainly among limestones and in sedimentary-carbonate strata. In Russia, there are large deposits in the Urals - Astafyevskoe, Matinskoe, Pelingichi, Puiva, etc. Also, the Aldan shield, Transbaikalia, Primorye.

Single crystals of rock crystal are grown in autoclaves on seeds, thus, a piezo-optical crystal with a mass of 2-3 kg can grow without defects in a year. The addition of Ge increases and Al decreases the refractive indices, Fe2 + gives green, Fe3 + - brown, Co - blue.

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