Smoky Quartz Crystal Plate For Faciting, Carving, Lab-grown In Cleveland, Ohio

  

Quartz crystal growth is one of a few intriguing natural processes that has been copied from Mother Nature and implemented in the laboratory. Industrial growth of commercial quartz crystals for their unique piezoelectric and optical properties has produced the necessary components for electronic and optical devices for about 65 years already. XSTALSHOP (division of R&D XTALS, Inc) has recently adapted this hydrothermal growth process with the aim of creating natural-looking crystal specimens for mineral collectors, museums, educators, as well as objects d?

The term "hydrothermal" is used to describe a crystallization method utilizing superheated. About 660 F 350 C. , mainly alkaline aqueous solutions at very high pressure. Exceeding 10,000 psi (>70 MPa).

The crystals are grown in an airtight, thick-walled, steel vessel called an autoclave. We called that autoclave as "high pressure cooker". Pressure in the autoclave is built up solely by electrical heating. Crystals begin forming on "seeds", which are broken natural quartz clusters, and/or slices and pieces of natural or grown quartz crystals. Crushed pieces of naturally abundant milky quartz are the raw vein material for growth. This process is complex, very energy intensive, requires specific controls, and can be dangerous. It cannot and should not be done at home.

Researchers from R&D XTALS have nearly 63 years of combined experience with hydrothermal growth techniques for quartz and several other crystals, and have the requisite educational background in geology and mineralogy. They also have the necessary patience to constantly monitor the batches of growing crystals over a long time from a few months to a few years. However, this is just a blink of an eye compared to the eons-long time scale required for some natural crystal growth. The faces on each crystal are built up, molecular layer by molecular layer, undisturbed, and in full darkness. They have not been cut, polished, or touched in any way to enhance their beauty after growth.

Close inspection may reveal faint traces of the seed inside individual crystals, but all of the external faces are natural shapes with natural luster. Some crystals or its pieces are hydrothermally etched after growth to reveal structural peculiarities and defects, which are important for scientific, educational, and industrial purposes. Quartz is a hard mineral and cannot be scratched easily, but it is brittle. Many our specimens are placed in a plastic display case to prevent dust accumulation and protect against chipping and breaking.

The crystals can be cleaned with warm soapy water and air duster indefinitely, and they are insoluble in practically all chemicals. Just avoid touching the very sharp edges and points.

These quartz crystals will last for a long time to educate you and decorate your mineral display or cocktail table at home. Some sensitive people perceive positive energy coming from our quartz crystals (observed at many mineral shows).

They use them for healing themselves and others; but everyone can find enjoyment and improved mood just by looking at these sparkling crystals and moving them in the light. Of the lab-grown and then gamma-irradiated quartz crystal plate shown on the pictures. These beautiful crystal plates were grown on the 2 mm seed plates, cut.

From the large lab grown seed crystals parallel to the optical axis. And perpendicular axis "a" in hydrothermal conditions over the three months' time period.

The seed was planted into an autoclave vertically with metal clips visible now on both upper and lower ends of a crystal. The crystal formed with two pinacoidal faces {0001}, six prismatic faces "m", ten rhombohedral faces, and two trapezoid faces "x" marked in red.

The growth rate in to "+a" direction is about two times larger than in opposite "-a" direction. Some rare small twin-buttons can be observed on "-a" shiny surfaces. The main faces on the crystal are positive trigonal prism.

With different surface textures and impurities concentration. The following gamma-irradiation was induced smoky color centers in presents of aluminum impurities, which are substitute silicon atoms in quartz grown along axis "a", especially into "+a" direction. Seed plate which is cut from purer "c" axis grown material is practically colorless and observable into specimens with bright light. Commercially for medical supply and food sterilization, does not induce any harmful secondary irradiation from these specimens.

Crystal length of all specimens is 22.0 cm, and the weight of the plates is proportional to its thickness, which is 1.4 cm, 1.6 cm, and 1.8 cm. The width of plates are 11.9 cm, 11.4 cm, and 12.8 cm correspondingly. You can find an additional information about quartz crystals and growth process on the Wikipedia website with key words: quartz, crystal, single crystal, piezoelectricity, crystallization, hydrothermal synthesis, seed crystal, crystal growth, etc. The information in this material is educational and promotional in nature.

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