Stone of the month – Smokey Quartz
Smokey Quartz (Smoky Quartz) is silicon dioxide and has a Trigonal crystal system. It is coloured from grey to warm brown, light and clear to an almost “solid” looking black/brown. The characteristic smokiness is caused when quartz is exposed to very low levels of natural radiation from surrounding rocks or radioactive elements over a very long period of time. It is formed hydro thermally, mainly in the spaces of gas bubbles in ancient volcanic rock.
Smokey Quartz is a protective stone. In Alpine countries, crucifixes are still being made from it. Soldiers have worn it as a protective amulet, in the belief they would return unharmed from war. In Scotland this crystal is known as Cairngorm and there is a rather large point in their National sceptre.
