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Article: A Common Mineral Flaunts Its Colors.
- Article from:
- The World and I
- Article date:
- December 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Crystallizing from hot-water-rich fluids in the earth's crust, quartz occurs in an amazing variety of forms and colors, and ranges in use from ornaments to sophisticated technological devices.
Large, six-sided prisms protrude tantalizingly through the rock. Attracted by their clarity and symmetry, you decide to do a little investigating. You go up to them and try to scratch their surface. No, they cannot be scratched easily. They don't melt easily either. From their crystal structure and impressive size, you surmise they aren't diamonds. Then what are they? How were they produced?
Before the Renaissance, many believed that crystals such as these were a ...