Quirks of Quartz: Chemistry Tale

The Healing Music Organization

2005-11-09T08:11:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in the Crystal Singing Bowls? Well, your not the only one. In the Healing Music Organization there are thousands of members who are buying crystal singing bowls. The organization was created by Amrita Cottrell after she was healed from cancer. She states: "The Healing Music Organization was born out of my love for music, and the excitement over the incredible healing I experienced in combining sound and intention." The mission of this website advertising many crystal products is to provide information, resources, tools, and a forum for dialogue to people interested in the healing power of music and sounds from crystal singing bowls. She statest that HMO (Healing Music Organization) serves as a bridge between the world of spirituality and medicine. The HMO also supports historians, visionaries, and researchers in developing/revealing more way to utilize the energy from the crystal products. So is this organization any better than the scam of the Singing Bowl which state that the crystal singing bowls produce perfect sounds from the magic of crystals? Well the creator states that she managed to cure herself of cancer, at least that recovery could be a placebo effect, the Singing Bowl just does not occur.

Synthetic Quartz

2005-11-09T02:12:00.000-05:00

Although natural quartz is typically inexpensive, synthetic quartz is often used for such applications as piezoelectric elements were purity and concistant cystral structure is neccesary. The first synthetic quartz was produced in 1845 by C.E. Schafhautl. However, it was not until after the 1970s that synthetic quartz began achieving industrial significance due to autoclaves. These quartz crystals are grown from pure quartz dust, known as lasca, under high pressures and temperatures. In order to make the, lasca, an alkali solution like NaOH and seed crystals are deposited within the autoclave. The autoclave consists of nothing more than an iron structure capable of withstanding the intense heat and pressure, often up to 40,000 psi, necessary for crystal formation. Around the autoclave are heaters with precisely control the temperature at that point. These heaters are important because the Crystal formation depends on the convention currents bringing lasca deposited at the bottom of the autoclave to seed crystals at the top. In the laboratory crystal growth, growth can be measured by x-rays. However for production purposes, the high repeatability of the growths allow crystal size to be guessed by the length of incubation. Typically it takes anywhere from thirty to one hundred days for crystal growth depending on the size of the crystals needed.
To find out more Information visit: http://rockhoundingar.com/quartz/synthetic.html

Save the Quartz!

2005-11-09T00:39:00.000-05:00

Your quartz not working as well as it should? This lukewarm dead quartz must be the result of it being “blasted out of dying mountains and stuck in crates....” according to this latest scam. These weak crystals are the result of brutal mining that supposedly saps the them of their strength. While according to modern scientific thought quartz is composed of silicon dioxide with elemental impurities, the people at Kacha-stones.com seem to believe that there is natural depleteable energy stored within quartz crystals. This energy is destroyed during the normal brutal mining process . Instead their quartz is “ethically hand mined” so the quartz does not feel the pain of being wretched from its rock kin. Additionally, the site complains about the poor storing conditions of quartz in warehouses. They believe that the pollution present their will make quartz sick apparently. This load of bunk anthropomorphizes quart. It stops just short raising a cry to PETA to help halt quartz abuse.

Crystal Ally Cards

2005-11-09T00:36:00.000-05:00

Do you want to experience a new level of gemstone information? Well then you have come to the right place. As one of the mentors of the prestigious Crystal Conference 2005 Naisha Ahsian has revealed a new level of crystal powers so you can "take," you a step farther, allowing you to immediately apply that information to situations in your own life!" Behold, the Crystal Ally Cards! Although these cards may not even have actual crystals on them special powers are produced from beautiful channeled artwork and digit stone photography with original visionary art.
Do you feel the power of the crystal from the picture on the left? With this power one can divine current and future life issues, work a path of personal spiritual growth, or even heal yourself and others. The users of this product have stated that the information from the cards were straight forward from their hearts. So is this another scam with the use of crystals (photography of crystals)? Only if you believe in the fortune tellers taro cards.

Another False Website...

2005-11-08T19:32:00.000-05:00

“The stone that was once believed to bring the energy of the stars into the soul of man.” This meant to describe the so-called power of the quartz crystal. One would think that these inaccurate websites would eventually stop, but it seems that there will be no end to these get rich schemes. Quartz has been singled out as the magical stone of “divination and clairvoyance”.

This website claims that gazing into a quarts will allow you to actually explore past and future and to see visions which are not normally seen. This “tradition” have been used Celtic legends, Oriental magic, Alchemical romances. If the crystal is a certain shape, it will increase the natural power of Quartz itself, and different crystal have different purposes. A Rutilated Quartz has golden needles within the stone which serve to focus the attention. Smoky Quartz is considered good for calming the mind, amd the color of rose quartz is said to promote the vibrations of universal love and inner serenity. Quartz may have interesting colors and shapes, but in no way do they mean anything. To see this website click here

The Quartz Watch

2005-11-08T19:02:00.000-05:00

Time pieces have been available for many centuries; however, they have taken tremendous strides in size cost. Partly thanks to quartz crystals. Before quartz entered the time scene, watches were made from tuning forks and batteries. Although this was significant advancement in time keeping, watchmakers wanted a new timing element and to design an integrated circuit that would use very little power to allow the watch to run on a tiny internal battery. The quartz crystal became the obvious chose because it is thousands of times more accurate than a tuning fork.

The quartz crystal works because it is unaffected by most solvents and remains as a crystal in hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit. The property that makes it an electronic is that when it is pressed, it generates an amount of energy on its surface. This is called the piezoelectric effect, which was discussed earlier. When exposed to a battery the quartz vibrates at thousands of times per second.

Stone Lore

2005-11-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

Older than history, quartz and its other gem stone incarnations have accrued magical powers within their surrounding cultures still exist in the form of crystal frauds. Typically quartz incantations substances were attributed strange curative powers due to their vivid colors, rarity, and physical strength. The banded agate could mitigate fevers and could defense against scorpion stings while the violet amethyst could detoxify alcohol and focus the mind. In terms of physical strength flint, opaque quartz, assumed a preeminent role in Stone Age society by as the edge of choice for cutting implements. As a result flint cutting implements survived in ceremonial practices like the Jewish bris and were venerated as gifts fallen from the gods. Additionally, such crystals as onyx were considered the quintessence of love with its many layers of color blending into one stone. In every case, the lore was a natural outgrowth of quartz’s obvious physical attributes. As the general scientific understanding increased, popular belief in these mythic aspects of quartz decreased. Now its have powers changed to match the new fears of the time. Although quartz no longer believed to detoxify alcohol, websites propound the idea that it protects against electromagnetic waves. In place of the old lore, new tales have come about quartz augmenting the natural frequencies of the body…. If we no longer believe in quartz’s old abilities, why should the new ones get credence?

To find more information about the lore surrounding quartz crystals, visit http://syninfo.com/Crystal/xls004.htm

Altantis- The Lost Empire, Powered By Crystals?

2005-11-04T00:07:00.000-05:00

Have you ever watched Walt Disney's Atlantis - The Lost Empire,a simple animation about the son of a successful historian who with the help of his father's friend discovers the Lost Empire of Altantis and heroically saves the day saving all the Atlanteans who were in grave danger. In this animated movie during the adventure into the lost empire of Atlantis there are giant mechanical monsters, flying vehicles, dangerous weapons, and GIANT CRYSTALS! Even the flying vehicles in the movie were activated with a crystal. So where did the animators of Atlantis think of the idea that the energy was generated from these crystals?
These beliefs that Atlantis used crystals originated from America's greatest psychic, Edgar Cayce. Cayce stated that the largest crystal generator was located under the Atlantic ocean, located in the devil's triangle. He also states that the accidents of ships and airplane is due to the electromagnetic energy created by this massive shift. He also states the negative ways in which Atlanteans used crystals, which were hypnosis which would project imagines into one's mind enabling the crystal holder to control the minds. It is stated: "Crystals were harnessed in Atlantis for power and surgery."
So does our belief in magical power inside crystals originate from Atlantis? Who knows, did Atlantis even exist?

History of Quartz

2005-11-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

The idea of healing and magic behind quartz did not start recently. There has been evidence of the use of quartz in the royal families of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. Quartz has been especially evident in Pre-Columbian American cultures of the North American Indians, Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans. There has been many works made by these tribes that have been unrivaled. There are also anecdotes from the Bible that encouraged crystal collecting. In European history, Queen Elizabeth I’s court spiritualist’s crystal ball was made of Quartz, which embellished a magical sense about these crystals.
There are also crystal mythology beliefs in Greek, Roman, Native American, and Egyptian Mythology. To the ancient Japanese, Quartz was representative of perfection and the Indian culture believed it could detect food poison. Quartz crystals have also been found in the temples of the ancient Chinese. The ideas of quartz have a magical power has not been a recent thought, but it has long been part of history.

The Dark Side of Quartz

2005-10-28T11:53:00.000-04:00

To get those wonderful crystals prized by jewelers and quartz psychics, the naturally occurring quartz must be mined. However when extracting these quartz crystals and metals from the ground, miners are exposed to fine dust particles of quartz in the air. Both drilling and transportation sends harmful concentrations of quartz airborne. As the miners breathe, those minute amounts of silicosis lodge in their lungs and slowly irritate them. This creates scare tissue and hinders the lungs ability to absorb oxygen from the air. As the quartz concentration increases, the miners develop a lung disease termed silicosis. The first symptoms are usually “shortness of breath upon exercising, possible fever and occasionally bluish ski lobes or lips” The disease lowers life expectancy drastically by making it easier to contract other lung diseases. While silicosis can be detected by x-ray, there is no cure for silicosis. The only prevention can defend against the disease. To find out what the United States government is doing to protect our miner’s from quartz’s harmful effects follow this link http://www.msha.gov/illness_prevention/healthtopics/HHICC02.HTM.

Crystals: Not Just for Adults Anymore

2005-10-28T00:02:00.000-04:00

Karen Ryan, a Crystal Energy Therapist, as well as the writer of A Guide to Gem and Crystal Therapy, felt it was necessary to show us through her website that crystals can heal kids; because what’s better than manipulating a child into believing in the idea that rocks can cure. In fact, future generation will not be doctors, but rather rock analyzers. One can tell this is completely false just by the second paragraph which states that a child will use his or hers psychic abilities to find a crystal that fits him or her and will quickly respond to the crystal’s healing power. Who knew that every child had psychic abilities? Ryan suggests that the child carry the crystal in his or her pocket, or place 1 or 2 in a small medicine bag around the neck for optimal protection.
Now that Ryan has covered kids, the most obvious candidate for crystals is pets. Ryan claims that careful placement of certain crystals on the pet’s bed or on their collars will promote better health.
And remember what Karen Ryan said it most important : “Your commitment to the crystal is part of the healing process. Let the crystal do the work for you. It is best not to wear more than two stones at any one time if you are new to crystal healing, as many people find the effects too distracting. The length of time to obtain the effects desired will depend on the quality of the crystal (size, colour, energy charge), location of wear, duration, and the crystal's appropriateness to your healing. Some crystals are better suited to healing the overall problem which underlies the symptoms, than to just treating superficial symptoms. Select your crystal with an honest outlook on the real problem.” This website consists of many pages, none of them backed by any scientific proof; one would wonder who buys into these things?

Master the Power of Crystals!

2005-10-27T21:31:00.000-04:00

Not satisfied with the various crystal products? May be you just don't know how to use them well. If so, your worries are now gone with The Crystal Conference 2005! This conference is a three/four day conference exploring the knowledge and discovering the world of metaphysical stones. With this conference you will also be able to "Connect in community to celebrate and learn in a very experiential atmosphere, as we hold the pattern of healing ourselves and the planet." This conference offers Crystal lovers a chance to learn from the world's best teachers, in "crystalology," it also offers store owners who sell these scams more knowledge so they may rip off their consumers even more. In this conference the mentors are Hazel Raven, author of Crystal Healing, William Jones & Paul Utz, the creators of the Crystal Singing Bowls, Herb Stevenson, a shaman and crystal teacher, Kirby Seid, the developer of Liminal Light Crystal Meditation Technology and co keeper of Sha Na Ra, Naisha Ashian, Crystal Ally Cards, and Robert Simmons, author of Earthfire. Although the validity of this program and their teachings of shamanism and various methods of healing using crystals are not mentioned in the website, the products mentioned such as the Sha Na Ra, crystal bowls, and Crystal Ally Cards, many of which are mentioned in previous posts definitely show that these products are only scams directed to gullible costumers. So do these mentors and masters of "crystalology" actually believe that the quartz crystal and other crystals can heal and enhance the human body? Let's just hope there is a limit to human stupidity/insanity.

See the Quirkiness!

2005-10-21T11:06:00.000-04:00

Ever smash together two pieces of quartz? Not only does quartz exhibit piezoelectricity, but when you crush, grind, or give a strong mechanical shock to quartz, it will emit light. This property is known as tribloluminesense, “tribo, meaning "friction," and luminesce, meaning "to emit light.” Although for years no one understood how tribloluminences functioned, it is now thought that the deformation and fracturing causes a separation of charge in asymmetric crystals like quartz. “Splitting such a crystal into two pieces puts positive charges on one face and negative ones on the other”The electrons jump across the barrier to normalize the charge thereby emitting a lighting bolt. To determine what type of crystal structure allows tribloluminesence, Dr. Linda Sweeting at Towson University in Towson, Md., synthesized crystalized esters and then crushed them, watching for sparks. Other pieces of sample were then tested by x-ray diffraction photography to determine their precise structure. Almost all of the tribloluminensent material had a triangle type crystal structure with an aystemtric distribution of atoms. In addition, the experiment revealed that impurities in crystals can allow the crystals to flash even when there was an overall symmetry. The impurities create local asymmetry necessary for the separation of charge when the crystal cracks.
To see tribloluminence with your own eyes just take a pack of Wint-O-Green Life Savers.

See the Sparks!

Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls

2005-10-21T10:55:00.000-04:00

Do you want to use the best sound quality, resonance, costumer's server, and use the same product as professional sound therapists, medical doctors, musicians and singers? Then behold, The Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls! Although direct disproof of this product is not offered. the scientific support of this product is quite laughable. Not only do they constantly repeat terminologies such as "chakra" and "reiki", they state: "Create a magical and powerful effect of sound and vibration that resonates through you and your environment." In addition, they state that the "angelic tone" produced by their product have personal and healing effects. It states that Quartz crystal music holds the vibration of white light which refracts into the rainbow palette and acts directly on our chakras when the bowls are played. In addition they mention that the quartz has the power to bring about a positive shift in our consciousness. They also state that clear quartz integrates the balance of our own electromagnetic energies.

Along with these scientific "proofs" they included customer saticfaction comments. It may be true that these singing bowls product clear sounds but, due to magical powers of the quartz? Doubtful.

Crystal Therapy

2005-10-20T19:30:00.000-04:00

It seems that quartz crystals have been making a big impact on medicinal websites. Too bad their facts are all wrong and have no scientific validity. This website tries to show the medicinal advances in crystal use. Ironically it uses the history of crystals from the fairy tale city of Atlantis, which, like this theory is unproven. It then attempts to explain how the crystals heal. “The application of the correct crystal for each individual person affects their energy field and sets the healing process in motion. An in-depth knowledge by the practitioner of individual crystals, their vibrations and effects on the human energy field and physical body, is therefore of the utmost importance. The experienced crystal therapist works intuitively to determine where there are blockages in the body of her client; using specific crystal lay-outs to first carry out cleansing, followed by revitalization of the energy field with carefully chosen crystals suited to the individual person. The session will be completed with a protective ‘grounding’ of the energies to ensure the client receives maximum benefit from the healing energies.”
It is said that one can feel the vibrations while holding the crystal in their hands. People who believe in this believe there are four types of “bodies”, physical, etheric, emotional, and mental; certain crystals helping with certain problems. These ideas, although they might work psychologically, cannot work in nature.

The Real Power of Quartz

2005-10-14T00:54:00.000-04:00

Misunderstood, but lauded by the con artists, the piezoelectric effect is an integral property of the quartz crystal. In the 1880 by Jacques and Pierre Curie discovered the effect in quartz. Since then it has ben adapted to thousands of applications including watches, sensors, and sonar. As its name implies, the piezoelectric effect means that when pressure (piezo is pressure in Greek) is applied to the substance, a voltage is generated across it. The applied pressure displaces the evenly distributed electrons in the crystal forming the net charge. Most applications utilize this property by creating a piezoelectric material sandwich, two plates with the material in-between. In effect this acts as a capacitor with the stored voltage varying directly to the pressure applied. Attached electronics then measure the voltage turing it into a sensor, like in a microphone. On the other hand, the same set up can be adapted as mechanical actuator. When the in the presence of an electric field, piezoelectric materials like quartz deform so that their charges can line up according to the field. So when a voltage is placed across the two plates in the piezoelectric sandwich, the material compress or expands in response. This is utilized in speakers and watches. For more information on piezoelectric materials go here: http://www.resonancepub.com/piezoele.htm .

What is the Cost of Love?

2005-10-13T19:46:00.000-04:00

Are you looking for love in your life? Do you need to overcome a lost love? Do you want help finding the love of your life? Well, instead dealing directly with a situation, for as little as $70.00, one can simply slip on a necklace and their problems will automatically be gone. This is the claim that Angelic Vibrations makes. It seems that there is a consistency within this website to make outrageous statements that these minerals will make one have a better, more balanced life. In fact, one necklace claims to protect the customer from evil forces. However, due to the fact that these crystals are simply minerals from the ground and contain no power, this necklace would be completely ineffective. The only power that quartz crystals do contain is the power to have a vert low vibration if, and only if, the crystal is exposed to an outside electrical field. And if the crystal did vibrate, it could in no way protect one from wrongdoers.
The website says that one needs these necklaces to deal with a one's love problems. But is the cost of love really $70.00 plus tax? This site’s mission is: “Our stones are designed to help you find balance and success in your life using quartz crystals”, but seeing as that quartz crystals are just pretty things to look at, the real mission seems to be taking money from ignorant consumers.

The Magical Quartz

2005-10-13T17:44:00.000-04:00

Do you believe in magic? If not PowerfulThings will show you how you can work magic with crystals! PowerfulThings states: "The metaphysical properties of crystals and minerals are powerful resources. A common metaphysical use for programming crystals is for natural healing such as: spiritual healing, physical healing, emotional healing, holistic healing, as well as, balancing energy, restoring energy, healing charkas, personal growth, self-improvement and spiritual growth." It states that quartz crystals love to be touched and the technique for creating magic with quartz crystals have been "researched, studied, practiced, and proved to be successful."
One of the process in creating magic with a quartz crystal starts with having a clear motivation and strong intent. Then, lifting the veils between the world that is and what could be. Afterwards you are to open your heart and mind. After these steps you are to be exaulted in your attention and intention, then allow the crystal to be elegant in service to you. Along with these methods in creating magic, PowerThings also states: " If a technique is not successful in the timeframe expected, reconsider it to determine the real truth of your desire, rethink it to see if the core desire can be expressed in a different way, restate it and perform the technique (or a different technique) again, with deeper feeling, more clarity and greater confidence that comes from introspection." With these outrageous claims there is not a single part of the website which gives the research and proof they mentioned or any scientific data for support. So is this a scam? Of course not, everyone knows you can create magic with good intentions and a quartz crystal!

Behold the Crystal Ki Energized Water!

2005-10-06T23:14:00.000-04:00

Not satisfied with your Poland Spring Water? Then try the "extensively researched and demonstrated" crystal Ki Water! The Crystal Ki Energized Water, developed by Marcel Vogel a scientist who formerly worked at IBM,is stated to heal wounds faster, make plants grow faster, preserve fruits for a longer period of time, and extend lives if consumed for a long period of time. Vogel states that: "if you turn water around a charged Vogel Crystal, the moving body of water will pick up the field from the crystal, through resonant interaction, and the charge transferred will structure the water." An amazing discovery, don't you think?

Not only does this scientist/scammer give invalid results from Crystal Ki Water, he also gives a "scientific" description of the chemistry behind this bogus product. He states that: "The quartz Crystal in the filter has had its piezoelectric natural energy exponentially enhanced to have a stronger energy level." And a water molecule which goes through this "scientifically justified" filter changes structure making the water taste better than tap water. Its amazing how much people trust a scammer just because of their previous profession and terms they don't understand.

Get Your Very Own Quartz Guardian Today!

2005-10-06T21:26:00.000-04:00

Afraid of those nasty energies radiating from enemies and the environment at large? Have no fear. Quartz can protect you with its new super powers! When fashioned into a “Bioelectirc Shield,” quartz can now reflect negative energies attacking its wearer leaving the wearer stress free and jubilant. Hand crafted by Montanan jewelers, this stress shield has melted away life’s frustrations for “thousands of users”; the placebo effect works wonders.

Another one of those bogus cures, the “Bioelectric Shield for EMF Protection (Search for bioelectric shield) preys upon people’s misunderstanding of science at large. The essential claim “It deflects and redirects energies that impinge on you from your environment (like a mirror deflect’s light)” plays off of confusion about light. By comparing it to light, something that undeniably exists but most people really don't understand, the scammers attempt to attach validity by association. If light can be reflected, why can’t those mean glares making me feel sad? However, EMF does not carry negative energy but is instead a facy word for light, electromagnetic field.
The scammers then take the analogy a step further and send their device farther into fairy tales. A mirror works by having a reflective surface so that it refracts the light at a 90 degree angle. This works only on the surface of the mirror. In order to behave like a mirror since, this piece of jewelry would have to project some invisible, intangible, barrier around a person to stop the light. Then if the barrier some how worked, the person wouldn't be able to see. All the light going to the person would be reflected, no light would arrive at his eyes, blinding him. Funny, how the people at Bioelectric shield never fully explored the scientific concept they were using.

Uri Gellar : The Man & The Scam

2005-10-06T18:40:00.000-04:00

People will do anything to earn a quick dollar, including selling a mineral as a quick fix to someone’s bad day. These ridiculous theories are backed by nothing except by greedy. One of these notorious scammers is named Uri Gellar who considers himself a world-class psychic who can use his mind powers to bend spoons. He also sells these quartz crystals claiming that they can make your day better. According to the websites, when the quartz is placed on a major energy center of the body the cells vibration will become balanced and the customer’s quality of life will improve. The websites will go even further to say that the quartz can be used to balance the polarities between the left and right side of the body. Even though it is impossible to balance the polarities of the body using tiny vibrations of crystals without an electric field, there are still some believers who make these scammers wealthy. However, on his website, his disclaimer is a long wordy paragraph which starts with: “ I, as Uri Geller, cannot substantiate some of these claims.” Considering these “feel good” crystals aren’t exposed to the electric field needed to vibrate, there is no evidence to say that the crystals do anything except look pretty.