Amphibole Quartz

by Curtis Lang		print version
		print version (graphics)

Most Amphibole 'Angel' Phantom Quartz comes from Bahia, Brazil. Some contain phantoms, others do not display that characteristic of Amphibole Quartz. Amphibole quartz has long been known among mineralogists and rockhounds as a desirable, unusual collector's item, and has recently come to the attention of metaphysical crystal collectors and Lightworkers because of its rich blend of mineral inclusions, which give it a unique set of energetic properties.

Because Amphibole Phantom Quartz stimulates the third eye and crown chakras, it is considered to be useful for connecting to the higher-self, for astral travel, to promote lucid dreaming and to facilitate interdimensional communication. This Phantom Point contains inclusions of such metaphysically potent minerals as Limonite, Kaolinite, Hematite, and Lithium.

Limonite, also known as Lemon Rock, is a form of hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide Commonly occurring as a yellowish-brown amorphous substance, limonite is mined for use as iron ore.

Limonite is known by metaphysical rockhounds as a stone that promotes ease and grace, stability and comfort. Limonite is also said to provide mental protection, shielding the bearer from detrimental thought forms, muddy thinking and psychic attack. Limonite has been used in treatment of disorders of the liver.

Kaolinite is a soft, earthy, usually white clay mineral sometimes offering a rust appearance caused by iron oxide.

Kaolinite has been used to soothe an upset stomach, and was for many years the active ingredient in the over-the-counter anti-diarrehal medicine Kaopectate.

Crystal healers have used kaolinite to aid in situations where accelerated spiritual progress has taxed an individual's ability to process, digest and transform mental, emotional and karmic issues in life. Kaolinite provides for a strengthening of the bearer's will forces as well, enabling the individual to progress along the path of Spirit more smoothly as a result. Kaolinite has also been used to treat digestive disorders and to clarify, tonify and smooth the skin.

Hematite is the most important form of iron ore, occurring as heavy, fragile, opaque granular masses, often with a ruddy red hue. Hematite crystallizes as grey-black to reddish colored rhombohedral and tabular crystals, rosettes and in a variety of more unique formations, all with a metallic luster.

Melody calls hematite "a stone for the mind", useful for memory enhancement, mental attunement, original thinking and enhanced concentration while studying and absorbing technical knowledge. Hematite is a "cooling stone", calming the mind and dispelling heat from the physical body. The electromagnetic qualities of hematite are useful for balancing the energy meridians and to equilibrate the interface between the etheric body and the physical nervous system.

Hematite transforms negativity into love, harmonizes and balances yin-yang energy within the energy body, and stimulates the desire for peace in one's life. Hematite promotes a grounded meditative state very helpful to those seeking to unite heaven and earth within themselves. Hematite is used by crystal healers to promote spinal alignment, and in treatment of broken and fractured bones.

The lithium in most of these beautiful Amphibole specimens is a soft silvery-white metal found as a trace element in many types of minerals, including spodumene, petalite, lepidolite, kunzite, and quartz crystals. Lithium salts are used medically to treat both mania and depression.

Lithium Quartz brings emotional peace, stress release, and relaxation. A powerful, yet gentle healer, Lithium Quartz balances the brain and the emotions. Lithium Quartz uplifts the mental and emotional bodies, and gently moves repressed anger and grief to the surface for healing. Lithium Quartz Crystal can also heal emotional issues from past lives.

Lithium Quartz can also activate and cleanse all of the Chakras. In Reiki and crystal healing sessions with our clients, and in self-treatment, we have found Lithium Quartz to induce deep relaxation in the most recalcitrant subjects, and to calm and soothe physcial, emotional and mental turbulence. For this reason, Lithium Quartz is also a desirable meditational aid.

Amphibole Phantoms

Phantoms are created when a faceted tip forms at one point in the crystal's growth, then the crystal's growth is interrupted for some reason, and then the quartz crystal subsequently resumes its crystallization, which eventually encloses the phantom crystal outline within itself.

One possibility is that a pocket inside the earth surrounding the crystal dried out, stopping the crystal's growth. When a crystal's growth is interrupted for some reason, a thin dusting of such minerals as pyrite, hematite, chlorite or galena can gather on the termination faces.

Perhaps the pocket was later resaturated, triggering another stage of crystal growth.

If the crystal's growth then resumes, over long cycles of crystalline growth, the dusting of alien minerals covering the crystal's original termination faces, is incorporated into a much larger quartz crystal than the original.

This long growth process creates a piece with the classic phantom crystal point which can be seen within a larger crystal. Sometimes one can see two or three phantom points within a given crystal wand, and in such cases, the growth process was undoubtedly stopped and started several times over unthinkably long periods of geological time.

The final result is the formation of a "phantom crystal", much larger than the original crystal structure at the point of growth interruption.

The phantom typically displays one or more translucent thin, cloud-like layers of mineral deposits resembling small points. Each layer of cloudy inclusion contains a revealing snapshot of the crystal's termination faces in the remote past. Each phantom marking represents a different stage in the crystal's growth -- and each stage can last for hundreds of thousands of years! Each phantom crystal reveals its own evolutionary pattern -- it is as though we can see the record of the transmigrations of the crystal's soul.

It should come as no surprise that phantom crystals help us to unearth our own histories, and to come to terms with unresolved issues from our past. Phantoms help us to see our own messy histories and our painful karmic issues as part of a beautiful spiritual evolution. In this way, they help to restore a sense of inner balance, unity and an aura of magic where there had been pain and struggle.

For more information, check out the article "Using Quartz Crystals in Digital Technology, Healing and Meditation" for an overview of the metaphysical and mineralogical properties of quartz, and a step-by-step guide explaining how to cleanse, charge, and program quartz crystals for healing, meditation and other spiritual purposes.