Your Ultimate Guide to Quartz

Rhiannon Liselle
Published July 28, 2019

Quartz is a variety of crystal that is wonderfully effective and unique in crystal healing.

There are many varieties of quartz, and it is the most abundant mineral on the planet. And considering the spirited, powerful healing properties of quartz, we can count ourselves lucky that it is so plentiful.

The most well-known variety of quartz is clear quartz, which can resemble a large diamonds and can be found in crystal clear varieties to cloudier, more opaque hue variants. But there are many other varieties of quartz, all of which are beautiful and healing in their own way. Today, we’re going to walk you through the main types of quartz crystals you’re likely to find so you can decide which types might work best for you.

Your Ultimate Guide to Quartz Crystals

Clear Quartz

Clear quartz is one of the most powerful stones to work with in crystal healing. It acts as an energy conduit and amplifies the energies of other crystals. It also works to increase your own energies or intentions, making it extremely effective when used in conjunction with manifestation or affirmations. This stone clears negative energy from the body and the space surrounding it, purifying and enhancing the aura.

Clear quartz helps you connect to your higher, spiritual self. This stone helps you hear the messages coming from your highest wisdom, your deepest intuition. This powerful crystal also works to clear and align all seven of the major chakras.

Physically, clear quartz assists with dental issues, kidney problems, pain and weakened memory. Emotionally, this crystal promotes acceptance, healing, harmony, and it reduces emotional tension.

Clear quartz is a must-have for anyone interested in crystal healing, as it is not only powerful on its own, but it works to increase the energies of other stones you work with, as well as your own intentions.

Rutilated Quartz

Rutilated quartz is a beautiful variety of this quartz, which ranges from transparent, smoky greys to more opaque yellows and browns, with long, thin strands of rutile running through it. This is a truly magical stone that represents balance and duality. This stone has intensely healing properties and connects to and aligns each one of the seven major chakras.

This form of quartz works wonders for reducing depression and healing emotional wounds. It has purifying properties that collect and disperse negative energies around and within you. Because the base of this crystal is clear quartz, it amplifies the energy of other crystals and acts as a powerful energy conductor for your own body.

Rutilated quartz is particularly effective when used alongside meditation, as it quiets the mind and eliminates negativity.

The strands of rutile running through this stone appear golden and shimmer under the light. This is a physical representation of the light that this stone brings out within you — working with rutilated quartz will help uncover and highlight your natural, internal glow.

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Aura Quartz

Aura quartz glows with an almost holographic effect, shining brilliantly with its iridescent sheen. While the shimmering, rainbow-like effect of this stone is man-made, the result is powerful, as it utilizes the magic of nature alongside the mysteries of mankind. Aura quartz is created by bonding precious metals to clear quartz electrostatically — in a process called vacuum metalising — resulting in a mesmerizing glow that is hard to resist.

This beautiful stone is known for its expanding and healing properties. Aura quartz possesses a remarkably high vibration. Perhaps the most well-known form of aura quartz is angel aura quartz, which is created by bonding platinum and silver to clear quartz — the result of which is an angelic, blue sheen that shine with celestial light.

Each form of aura quartz possesses different properties, based on the precious metals to which it has been bonded. For restlessness, try cobalt aura quartz, which has been bonded to stabilizing cobalt. For an intensely healing stone, try opal aura quartz — quartz bonded with platinum. For body image issues, rose aura quartz will soothe your insecurities, as it contains the emotionally healing properties of silver and gold.

Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is one of the most loving, gentle crystals available, and its energy is excellent for combating any type of heartache. This stone comes in varieties of translucent-to-opaque rosy pinks, resembling its own compassionate essence.

Rose quartz represents unconditional love, and it is this unconditional love that rose quartz inspires you to share with yourself and the world. Its energy is feminine, strong yet peaceful, tender and healing. This stone heals emotional wounds and dissolves fears, opening your heart and encouraging self-acceptance and self-love.

This crystal is often referred to as the “heart stone” due to its ability to heal aches within the heart and improve relationships. Rose quartz promotes harmony and peaceful dialogue within romantic relationships, and helps each partner open their heart toward true intimacy.

Rose quartz inspires love, beauty, nature, art, and creativity. This is an excellent stone to use when experiencing any kind of creative block, as it allows you to access your imagination without judgement.

Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz comes in darker, translucent shades of blacks and browns and resembles a drop of water under the night sky in crystal form. This form of quartz is associated with the Root chakra and helps with feelings of insecurity or loss. This is a stone of power, regarded as highly spiritual by ancient Druids for its connection to the gods.

This is an extremely grounding stone, bringing you back down to earth during times when you can’t seem to root yourself. It helps you feel powerful and stable in your body, like a tree firmly rooted within the Earth’s crust.

Smoky quartz protects from psychic vampires by shielding your aura. This is especially useful for clairvoyants or those who are uniquely attuned to the energies and moods of others.

Other Types of Quartz:

Beyond the types of quartz highlighted in this guide, there are many other varieties that may surprise you.

Tourmalinated quartz contains inclusions of black tourmaline to form an uplifting, clarifying crystal.
Amethyst — while well-known on its own — is actually a purple variety of quartz that heals addictions, depression, and emotional distress.
Citrine is another well-known crystal that comes from the quartz family, promoting opportunity, luck, and positive energy.
Strawberry quartz resembles rose quartz in its physical nature, but works to increase love while reducing anxiety and stress.
Cat’s eye quartz contains dense inclusions of rutile, which causes a shimmering, cat-eye effect. It is thought to bring fortune to those who work with it.

Building Your Crystal Collection

If you’re just beginning to work with healing crystals, the process of building your crystal collection can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, many of the most powerful stones available are inexpensive and relatively easy to acquire.

Start by acquiring the crystals you feel most drawn to — like most metaphysical activities, working with crystals is a personal process and requires you to connect to your intuition. Your spirit will guide you toward the stones you most need at the time.