RUTILE

Rutile is the most common natural form of titanium dioxide, or TiO2. It is a relatively hard mineral, falling within the category of 6-6.5 on the Mohs Hardness scale. It is found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is formed under extremely high temperatures and pressure. Rutile is well-known for its needle-like crystals, high refractive index, luster, and color, with the mineral often exhibiting a golden, reddish-brown, or deep-black coloration. The color of rutile is dependent on its relative iron oxide content. When the iron oxide in rutile is high, the inclusions tend to take on variations of red and golden tones; Such inclusions may occasionally appear to resemble hay or strands of golden hair, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “Angel Hair Rutile”. Rutile is primarily used as an ore for titanium, a component in paints and pigments, a source of titanium dioxide that is used within plastics, sunscreens, toothpaste, and paper, as well as a useful material for optical equipment. It has also been used as a field research mineral for locating gold deposits and meteorite impact craters.

QUARTZ

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), it has a Mohs hardness of 7, and it crystalizes in the trigonal crystal structure. It is so abundant, that it makes up about 12 percent of the Earth’s land surface, and about 20 percent of the Earth's crust. As a matter of fact, it is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, behind feldspar. There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are classified as gemstones. Since antiquity, quartz crystals have been the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and ornament. It is also one of the most varied of all minerals, occurring in numerous forms, habits, and colors. Interestingly, quartz crystals have what is called “piezoelectric properties”; meaning, it has the ability to create an electric charge when applying mechanical pressure and friction. As an experiment, if you rub two pieces of quartz together in a dark room, the crystals will produce an electrical current and glow an orange color. Even more interesting, if you run a copper coil around or through a quartz crystal, and apply a stable electric current, you will receive upwards of 30% measurable energy increase. The ability to maintain a stable electric current makes them extremely useful in the application of keeping precise measurements, such as its uses of keeping time in watches and clocks.

QUARTZ HISTORY AND USES

The Ancient Greeks referred to quartz as krustallos, meaning "icy cold", because of the theory held by many esteemed philosophers that the mineral is a form of supercooled water, or permanently frozen ice. Theophrastus, the Greek philosopher and successor to Aristotle, and also, later, Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, both believed quartz to be water ice that had been permanently frozen after great lengths of time. Pliny the Elder supported this idea by saying that crystals of quartz are found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains. This idea persisted for roughly 1,600 years, until 17th century observations from Danish scientist, Nicolas Steno, paved the way forward for modern crystallography. He discovered that regardless of a quartz crystal's size, shape, or color, its long prismatic faces always joined together at a perfect 60° angle. This observation paved the way forward for scientists to begin research in crystal formation principles, observations and impact within polarized light, and the inevitable research that revolved around the principles of electrical mechanics.

By the 1930’s, most electrical devices had become dependent on quartz usage, creating a global race for the mineral’s extraction. However, only the purest forms of quartz crystals were able to be used in electrical mechanics, creating a dependency on the finest material being extracted almost exclusively from Brazil. As a result of interrupted supply chains during the second World War, scientists started working on the development of fully synthesized lab grown quartz crystals. A decade later, during the 1950s, hydrothermal synthesis techniques were producing synthetic quartz crystals on an industrial scale. Today, virtually all the quartz crystal used in modern electronics and industry is synthetic, while natural formations of quartz crystal are sought after for private collecting and jewelry making.

RUTILATED QUARTZ METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, rutilated quartz is believed to enhance spiritual enlightenment and provide positive energy flow. It is said that rutilated quartz is linked to the Solar Plexus Chakra, which helps to provide support of personal power and confidence. Quartz alone is a crystal that creates an effortless flow of energy and connectivity, and when in association with rutile it has the ability to further amplify positive vibrations and align its user with a sense of higher purpose and meaning. Because of its inter-dimensional connectivity, it is also said that rutilated quartz is a tremendous facilitator of spiritual knowledge and truth, providing insights that will promote and create emotional well-being. Physically, rutilated quartz is said to create healthy cell regeneration and amplify the immune system response, as well as provide elasticity to the blood vessels and support healthy blood flow. It is also said to counteract impotency and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs.