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Sec. IV, Ch. 31: Semi-Precious Stones, Rock Crystal

Sec. IV, Ch. 30: Semi-Precious Stones, Rhodonite Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 31: Semi-Precious Stones, Rock Crystal Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CHAPTER XXXI.
ROCK CRYSTAL.
EREOF the common opinion hath been, and still remaineth among us," said the learned Sir Thomas Browne, in his famous work on Vulgar Errors, in 1646, "that Crystal is nothing else but ice or snow concreted, and by duration of time congealed beyond liquation. Of which assertion, if prescription of time and numerosity of assertors were a sufficient demonstration, we might set down herein as an unquestionable truth ; nor should there need ulterior dis­quisition. For few opinions there are which have found so many friends, or been so popularly received through all Professions and Ages." The word crystal is, in fact, a standing testimony to this strange belief, since it owes its origin to the Greek word krustallos, which means "ice." Pliny, Seneca, and other ancient writers—not to mention Austin, Gregory, Jerome, and several early fathers of the Church—have given their adhesion to the opinion that Rock Crystal is nothing but water congealed by a cold so intense that ordinary methods fail to melt it.
Modern science, however, dispelling such illusions, has proved that Rock Crystal is a pure and limpid form of Quartz—a natural variety of silica.
Rock Crystal is found in a variety of forms, sometimes of extraordinary size and beauty. Its colour varies from pure white to greyish-white, yellow-white, yellowish-brown, clove-brown, and black. According to its colour it receives a variety of names : thus the yellow is known as Citrine and False- Topaz, the brown as Cairngorm and
Sec. IV, Ch. 30: Semi-Precious Stones, Rhodonite Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 31: Semi-Precious Stones, Rock Crystal
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