Looking for that piece of clear quartz that will make your jaw drop and your eyes pop? On the one hand, clear quartz is fairly easy to find in the world of crystals and gemstones. It’s not like Purple Jade, for example, which is fairly hidden in the earth.
No, the challenge with clear quartz isn’t finding the stone itself – it’s finding the perfect specimen. And that’s another game altogether – a downright hard game that can make finding a hunk of purple jade look about as simple as chewing gum. Still, if you don’t mind a little elbow grease, and you’ve got a good basic grasp of how to find crystals – and yes, luck is on your side, at least a little – then you should readily be able to add some show grade quality clear quartz to your collection.
All crystals, quartz included, occur naturally in the world. They are the result of geological factors that – when they take place under certain conditions at a certain time in a certain order – produce a predictable result. Basically, the presence of mineral A alongside minerals B and C, and the squeezing pressure the earth can put on said minerals, and the ambient temperature at the time and place of that squeezing . . . you get crystals. And even when they’re a relatively common type, they are still the children of highly specific geological conditions.
In other words, don’t take them for granted!
The search for any gemstone or crystal starts with a map that lays out a particular area’s geological character. Looking at it should give you a fairly good idea of where you’re likely to find a given mineral and in what density. You can get yourself oriented this way – identify the crystal you’re after and where the odds of finding it increase.
Another type of map that some rock hounds find useful is a mining map. These indicate the location (and size and sometimes even the quality) of a given crystal vein. Track it and you’re going to encounter some surface examples. Used in conjunction with a map that details geological layout, you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be digging in the right places.
That said, take heed of the property you’re on. Don’t be a trespasser! There are mining companies – and private landowners – who are perfectly happy to let you search their land in support of your hobby. But ask their permission first. And if they say no, respect their wishes.
Once you’re in the field, start sifting through loose soil. If you’re on actual mining ground, you want to look for what are called tailings – waste from the mine’s output. Carefully sift through it. You are looking for that sparkle, that tell tale shimmer that indicates a crystal. At the same time, don’t be too invested in seeing the light. Stones that have been underground, or simply lodged in top soil, for years are often covered with dust and grime and aren’t showing their best side.
You are looking for the rough specimen – don’t expect it to shine perfectly yet. That’s a whole other process and it doesn’t happen in the field.
Ideally you should travel with a three prong garden scratcher or even a small hand hoe. These can simplify the process of dislodging a crystal once you find it. Using these tools, you can loosen the soil by digging around the stone. Crystals – including quartz crystal – are susceptible to scratches and so you need to be careful. Don’t ruin a perfect specimen by rushing at this stage!
Finally, be patient. Just as those lovely crystals weren’t built in a day, so you aren’t likely to find the perfect example in a day. You have to love – or at least enjoy – the process of searching!
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