SCHORL

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES:  Schorl, pronounced SHORL, has been known since antiquity and was named in the 13^th century after the German mining town of Zschorlau, where it was occurred in quantity in the local tine mines.  Important sources are located in Brazil, Pakistan, Germany, Madagascar, Canada, Mexico, and the United States (California, Maine, New Hampshire, Colorado)

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Schorl [basic sodium iron aluminum borosilicate, NaFe₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄] crystallizes in the hexagonal (trigonal) system as long, longitudinally striated, jet-black, opaque prisms with distinctive, triangular cross sections.  It has a Mohs hardness of 7.0, a vitreous luster, indistinct cleavage, and a specific gravity of 3.2.  Its diagnostic jet-black color is caused by its high iron content.  Schorl, the most abundant member of the tourmaline-mineral group, occurs primarily in granite pegmatites with quartz, albite, and the tourmaline-group mineral elbaite.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES:  Schorl is a semiprecious gemstone that was especially popular during the Victorian era in mourning jewelry.  It serves as a minor gemstone today.  Schorl has no technological uses.  During medieval times, schorl was thought to alleviate the symptoms of pulmonary ailments.  Metaphysical practitioners believe that schorl removes and blocks and negative energies, increases physical vitality, and enhances insight and vision in daily activities.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Schorl is widely collected for its jet-black color, vitreous luster, excellent crystal development, and long, striated prisms.  It is especially popular as composite specimens in association with white albite and other pegmatite minerals.

QUARTZ (var. SMOKY)

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Smoky quartz is the smoky-gray, brown, or near-black gem variety of quartz.  Its name alludes to its color.  Gem-quality, smoky quartz is fairly common with collecting localities in Brazil, Switzerland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, and the United States (Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, North Carolina, California).

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: The physical properties of smoky quartz are the same as those of quartz [silicon dioxide, SiO₂], with the exception of its diagnostic smoky-gray to brown and near-black colors which are created by the effects of natural geophysical radiation.  Smoky quartz crystallizes in the hexagonal system and occurs mainly in granite pegmatites as short-to-long, horizontally striated, hexagonal, prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations and good transparency.  It has a Mohs hardness of 7.0, conchoidal fracture, vitreous luster, and specific gravity of 2.65.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES: In ancient times, smoky quartz was thought to cure infertility and generally benefit the reproductive organs.  Modern metaphysical practitioners believe that smoky quartz protects against harmful radiation, while enhancing the beneficial effects of medical radiation treatments.  It also helps to overcome nightmares, depression, and ambivalence.  Smoky quartz is a popular gemstone and is faceted into gems, often of 10 or more carats.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Smoky quartz is collected for its unusual colors, transparency, high degree of crystal development, and frequent association in composite specimens with such other pegmatite minerals as muscovite, albite, and the amazonite variety of microcline.