Smoky quartz meaning, healing properties and uses

What is smoky quartz?

Smoky quartz is a variety of crystals that are smoky gray, smoky yellow, tawny and brown in color. As the national stone of Scotland, it originated in Scotland and is mainly produced in Brazil.

Smoky quartz has healing properties that are believed to help the owner to focus on the present and to transform anger and negativity into positive energy.

In fact, Smoky Quartz is one of the most popular types of quartz because it is so easy to work with and can be cut into a wide variety of shapes and designs. Here is an overview of many interesting details about this beautiful crystal.

Smoky quartz properties

Smoky quartz has long been a popular gemstone and has been found in some of the world’s most important archaeological sites.

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Composition

The reason smokey quartz has such a high level of clarity is because of its silicon dioxide crystal structure, which gives it six-sided faces that have few flaws or inclusions on them.

It has a dense, velvety-to-the-touch texture, and it is often cut into gemstones and used in jewelry. It is composed of magnesium-rich iron silicates, which are found in solution within the earth’s crust.

Appearance

Smoky quartz is a form of quartz usually with a dark to light gray color and has an opaque and cloudy appearance. Its iridescent sheen can be seen in many colors including green, brown, blue, and gold.

Clarity

This crystal has a high level of clarity. This clarity provides an opportunity for the stone to display the perfect fusion of color and purity.

What color is smoky quartz?

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Smoky quartz is a variety of crystals that is smoky gray, smoky yellow, tawny and brown in color.

This stone has a unique chemical composition that gives it its color. One theory about its name comes from its distinctive smoky color, caused by iron impurities that give it a rusty hue.

Where is smoky quartz found?

Smoky quartz originated in Scotland, where they were widely used to decorate colorful national costumes and became the de facto “national stone”.

In fact, there are more of them in other regions than in Scotland. Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Ceylon, Spain are known for their deposits of smoky quartz.

How is smoky quartz formed?

Smoky quartz is one of the most attractive members of the crystal family. It is believed that the beautiful color of this gemstone is caused by the presence of radioactive material in the rock masses surrounding the primary deposit. The quantity of radioactive material causes a difference in the color or hue of the smoky quartz.

According to Hrba’s study from 1979, radiation of Cobalt-60 on colorless crystals can turn them into smoky quartz.

Currently, almost all of the smoky quartz jewelry on the market are products of radiation-induced discoloration.

Different varieties of smoky quartz

Smoky quartz is divided into three sub-categories: natural, heat-treated, and irradiated.

• Natural smoky quartz typically comes from deposits in Brazil, China, Madagascar, Russia, and Sri Lanka.
• Heat-treated smoky quartz is made by heating the crystal up to 1800 degrees Celsius for several hours before cutting it into shape.
• Irradiated smoky is created by bombarding smoky quartz with neutrons or gamma rays until it becomes clear, but still has a gray hue to it.

Here are some of the most popular natural smoky quartz varieties:

Morion

This beautiful gemstone has a shape that looks like a mythical medieval helmet and its design blends seamlessly with any outfit or accessory. Because of this unique property, the smoky quartz morion is popular as a fashion accessory as well as collectors!

Cairngorm

Cairngorm is a variety of quartz with a high silica content that forms in igneous rocks heated at very high temperatures in the presence of mineral-rich solutions.

It is a rich brown color with gray and silver-gray streaks. The colors can shift between these shades, depending on the light source.

It was discovered around 1978 in Scotland where the Scottish Highlands meet the Cairngorm mountains, at an elevation of 2,400 feet.

Brandberg Smoky Quartz

This glittering gemstone sparkles in the light and has a dark blue streak that makes it even more captivating. It’s hard to find and for that reason extremely expensive.

It comes from Brandberg Mountain in Africa, which is home to other interesting minerals such as titanite, and was discovered by miners who were looking for olivine and quartz during the mid-1800s.

The stone owes its name to the smokey color of stone which results from exposure to heat and pressure deep within Earth’s crust.

Smoky Amethyst Quartz

The Smoky Amethyst Quartz is a variety of quartz that has been found in the Larimer and Broad Creek Range of Colorado, USA. It typically grows in clusters near other minerals and its color is often described as smoky purple.

This stone is perfect for those who want to empower their intuition while helping them release stress and negative emotions. It also assists with understanding your own feelings, deciding based on your gut, and setting healthy boundaries for yourself.

It is also great for people who have emotional or spiritual sensitivity so it can help calm them down when they are triggered by the daily chaos around them.

Smoky Citrine Quartz

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This is an example of smoky quartz that has a citrine in it. Citrine is a variety of quartz that is said to have paranormal and healing properties.

Smoky citrine quartz combines the energetic and healing properties of smoky quartz and citrine in one powerhouse of a crystal.

It is grown in Brazil. But we can also get heat treated smoky citrine. The smoky citrine occurs when the stone has higher lithium content—the lithium darkness up for a while after heating to form the smoky citrine.

This stone is believed to help with caring for others and working through grief because it helps one work toward self-acceptance. It also contributes to honesty, self-love, and spiritual growth.

History and legend

This organic gemstone is reputed to have been in use since the Stone Age period. This is entirely possible because the smoky coloration comes from natural irradiation like other quartz stones and some of these stones have been found to be more than 200 million years old!

Smoky quartz was also popularized by Queen Elizabeth I because she wore it on her wrist during the day and on her neck at night when she wanted power or protection from bad luck.

Myths and Legends

Legends around smoky quartz are about fire and warmth, protection, overcoming obstacles, and preventing the spread of disease.

In the Hindu tradition, smoky quartz was believed to be a bridge between humans and animals.

It is said that when people carry a piece of smoky quartz with them, they will not get sick if they wash their hands with it before eating or going to bed at night.

Smoky quartz healing properties

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Quartz crystals are thought to have a healing effect on the physical, mental, and spiritual and are commonly used in rituals and therapies.

Smoky quartz, in particular, is considered to be one of the most powerful healing stones because of its metaphysical properties and benefits.

Physical healing properties

Smoky quartz can fill someone holding it or sitting near it with cleansing energy that removes negative thoughts, emotions, and energies, all of which can cause a feeling of fatigue or result in ill-health.

Physically healing properties of smoky quartz include reducing stress, anxiety, and pain as well as insomnia, headaches, and migraines. This stone also provides healing alleviating ailments like headaches and muscle pain.

Once negative energies are cleared, they attract positive energies into a person’s life, which, in turn, restores vigor and a sense of well-being.

One beneficial practice to improve physical health with smoky quartz is to wear it when doing Hatha yoga to stay mindful of every asana and coordinating inhaling and exhaling with every movement.

Emotional healing properties

Smoky quartz is often referred to as a psychic stone because it possesses an energetic vibration, which helps to balance and heal someone who has experienced debilitating traumas. When worn over a few days, it creates an energy of stillness and calmness.

The reason smoky quartz has profound emotional healing and restoring well-being because it has been beneficial for balancing emotions, calming anxiety, and reducing stress and nervousness.

It is also said to help with self-esteem issues, anxiety, depression, addiction recovery, and loss of identity. Additionally, because of its calming qualities, it is a good stone for people who need a more restful night’s sleep.

Spiritual healing properties

Smoky quartz is often associated with different metaphysical values based on which chakra it affects and the healing properties it shows.

Smoky quartz chakra

When it influences the root chakra, it works to create a sense of material stability. A person will feel grounded and drop any insecurity about a lack of resources in their life.

When it influences the third chakra, it works as a balancing stone. It is particularly powerful if someone is holding it while practicing pranayama, a deep breathing technique.

It is also effective if someone is meditating on their third eye, also known as the Ajna Chakra, a center for inner perception, for access to higher consciousness, and the chakra associated with insights arising from intuition.

Different colors of smoky quartz and their healing properties

Smoky quartz is often found in geode formations that can come in many colors like black, blue, brown, or green colors. Each color is associated with different metaphysical values based on which chakra it affects and the healing properties it shows.

The blue smoky quartz, for instance, is associated with the root chakra because it helps us feel grounded and rooted. It’s recognized as especially powerful for spiritual healing.

Meanwhile, the brown smoky quartz works as a balancing stone for the third chakra because it creates an energy of stillness and calmness. It allows you to find your center in any situation and focus on deep breathing techniques like yoga or meditation.

Smoky quartz uses

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How to use smoky quartz? Smoky quartz is one of the most versatile stones. Besides its use as a psychic stone that provides healing benefits, it is also used in more tangible ways, such as fashioned into ornaments and built into edifices to beautify them.

Smoky quartz is a stone that has been used for millennia by different groups for different reasons.

Fashion designers use it as an accessory to complement an attire. Architects use it as an ornamental stone for building facades. Interior designers use it for interior design projects. Investors consider it an excellent investment because it features a high demand with a low supply.

People are more likely to wear jewelry that has smoky quartz as it is easier to see and transmits good vibrations.

There are many different colors of smoky quartz, and they can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Since some gemstones are available in the shapes of hearts, stars, or even lucky horseshoes, people place the stone at home or at their office as decorative pieces.

They also like to carry it to meetings or in their cars when they drive in heavy traffic or other situations that stress them out because the stone is calming and grounding.

How much is smoky quartz worth?

The answer to this question depends on your location and its availability. If you are in the US, for instance, you can find it for less than $50 a carat. If you are in South Africa, however, it will cost you as much as $9000. The high price of this gemstone results from its scarcity and its popularity with collectors.

How to cleanse smoky quartz?

1. Cleanse with salt

The standard way to cleanse a smoky quartz stone is to use salt.

How do we do it? If you use large grains of salt, then simply put the salt on a plate or dish and then bury the stone within the salt for about 24 hours. Reminder, it can be longer than 24 hours, but not shorter. This is very effective and can last up to 3 months with a single purification, also called 100-day purification.

If we use small grains of salt instead, we need to prepare a liquid in the ratio of 10 grams of kosher salt to 500 grams of water, and put the crystal into the liquid and soak it for 24 hours. Since the small grains of salt are less energetic, you can carry it for about 1 month continuously for one purification.

2. Cleanse with clear water

Smoky quartz and its energy come from nature, so we can also use natural methods to help cleanse and purify the stone. Place the stone in a flowing stream or river and rinse it with water for 20 minutes before drying it. If this is not possible, buy a bottle of mineral water and soak the crystal in it for 24 hours. This helps to remove the negative energy.

3. Cleanse in the soil

This is the most powerful method. If the crystal has been owned by a sick person, then we strongly recommend using this method. After all, the crystal comes from the earth. Letting it go back to the original place for purification is the best.

Remember though to find an unpolluted place to do so. In addition, it is recommended that to bury for more than a month.

4. Charge on a crystal cluster

Cleansing and charging with a crystal cluster is the easiest and most convenient method. The crystal cluster itself has a very strong energy. It can not only purify the stone, but also charge it. All we need to do is to place the stone on the crystal cluster overnight.

5. Charge in the moonlight

On the night of the full moon, place the crystals on a windowsill facing the moon. You can also place them outside if it is safe to do so. If needed, cover them with a glass jar or bowl to provide extra protection. Moonlight will charge the crystals overnight.

Where to buy smoky quartz jewelry?

If you want to buy smoky quartz jewelry ranging from $20-$500, you can check Etsy. You can buy smoky quartz jewelry like a smoky quartz ring, a smoky quartz necklace or a smoky quartz bracelet that are affordable and of high quality and have them delivered to your house fast.

Alternatively, if you want to buy high end smoky quartz jewelry ranging from $100-$2000, you can check Farfetch. They have luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, Boucheron, Cartier, Chopard, David Morris, De Beers and designer brands that are unique and less well-known. You can also have all the products delivered to your home.

To wrap up

Smoky quartz has spellbound human beings for centuries. Today, it is appreciated for a wide number of reasons by different communities.

Geologists value it for its intricate structure, like its fascinating inclusions of small, opaque mineral particles dispersed throughout its transparent crystal structure. Metaphysical groups value it for its mystical energy and its powers of spiritual, psychological, and physical healing.

Jewelers and artists value it for its variety of forms and colors and stunning beauty. And even practical people, like investors and business people, are fascinated by it, valuing it for its high demand and scarcity.

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