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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 70 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?art for other buyers.

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 64 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.

For sale is one exquisite specimen of the lab-grown and hydrothermally etched quartz crystal plate shown on the pictures.

These beautiful crystal plates were cut from the large lab grown crystals perpendicular to the optical axis "c". One side of each plate is a precisely X-ray oriented flat cut surface. The opposite one is a rough “cobbled” surface of as grown pinacoidal face {0001}, formed on the lab grown quartz crystals.

The large 8” x 3” plates just a little bit trimmed in length and have mitered corners formed by Rhombohedral and prismatic faces. All the shorter plates were trimmed to the mainly rectangular shapes. The longer side faces are parallel to the trigonal prisms. The shorter ones are hexagonal prisms faces.

The thickness of plates varied from 2 to 6 mm because the “cobble” surfaces are freely grown and its growth rate in different end of the crystals is depends of the hydrodynamic inside of the growth chamber.

The formed plates then etched in hydrothermal conditions to reveal the dislocation exits via etch pits and etch channels. The shape of etch pits and etch channels are varies depending on crystal surfaces. Main pinacoidal surfaces have triangle etch pits, positive trigonal prism "+a" have spindle shape etch pits, and negative trigonal prisms "-a" have double terminated negative natural quartz crystal shape.

Study of etch pits shapes and its distribution on faces with magnifying glass or under microscope can bring you a magic story. Plates can be used also for stone cutting, craftsman of decorated windows and light fixtures. Some slightly chipped edges and matt spots on surfaces might be available.

The specimen length measures for 5.5 inch (14 cm), 6 inch (15.3 cm), 6.5 inch (16.5 cm), 7 inch (17.7 cm), 7.5 inch (19 cm), 8 inch (20.3 cm).

The specimen’s width is almost 3 inch (7.6 cm) except one, which is 5.5 inch long x 4 inch wide. Weighs about from 106 to 200 grams (0.23 to 0.44 pounds) depends of the shape and its thickness.

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.

Thank you for buying our specimens. Positive feedback will be very appreciated.

All photographs are copyright of R&D XTALS, Inc.

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