extraLapis No. 37 - Quartz
 From "evil ore" to coveted collector's item!

 The origin of the word quartz is shrouded in the mists of history. The term Quaterz or Qvertz originated in medieval Saxon mining – a coarse type of ore, a "bad" ore that contained no metal. Only from the mid-18th century onward was the term increasingly used to describe well-crystallized and beautifully colored varieties – which, chemically, are usually nothing more than "common silicic acid".
 Quartz has served as a tool since the dawn of humankind. Rock crystal and flint were used, among other things, as knives and arrowheads, or even as drills. Its magical significance should not be underestimated either. Rock crystal, for example, was considered a magic stone. It was worn as an amulet as early as the Neolithic period. Divination with polished crystal balls has been documented since antiquity. For millennia, quartz has been crafted into jewelry and decorative objects.
 Quartz is the second most abundant mineral on Earth after feldspar. It occurs in a wide variety of forms and colors. Fascinating twin forms, diverse growth phenomena such as phantoms, scepters, and windows, exotic pseudomorphs, and unexpected inclusions make quartz an incredibly varied mineral.
 Mineral – and therefore particularly interesting for collectors!
 100 pages with numerous color photos! Format: A4, paperback. 2009