What does Smoky Quartz Look Like?

Smoky Quartz is a transparent crystal found in a color range of yellowish-tan to a dark brown that is almost black.  When cut as a gem, stones may have an orangish or reddish tone due to inclusions of iron or hematite. Smoky Quartz will most often be found in large crystals and have a hexagonal shape of 6 sides when it grows as a natural cluster.

A few other identifying factors of smoky quartz are its few inclusions and its coloring. Natural smoky quartz often has a more vibrant or darker coloration in the tips of its points. Additionally, the stone is sensitive to ultraviolet light and will become pale when exposed to sunlight for a long time.

Smoky Quartz is a very common crystal that makes up approximately 12% of the Earth’s crust and is most commonly found in cracks of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The yellowish-brown coloring comes from natural radiation and aluminum impurities.

More often than not, if you see a VERY dark brown almost black colored smoky quartz, it has been irradiated manually (versus the sun) to increase the depth of the color.  Technically this makes it a heat-treated smoky quartz.

Where does Smoky Quartz Come from?

Smoky Quartz Meaning

Smoky Quartz is one of the most powerful anchoring stones. It carries Earth energies which help with grounding and healing of the root chakra. Thus, having this crystal in your life can help you feel more stable and able to stand up for yourself when needed. If you are looking for protection against negativity, this is the ideal gemstone. It also increases survival instincts and helps with reaching personal and business goals by bringing in abundance and prosperity. All of these energies combined make Smoky Quartz clusters your spiritual compass, clearing the path ahead and helping you in making better decisions. 

Smoky Quartz How to Use

Smoky Quartz comes in a variety of forms that can be carried around such as jewelry or tumbles, or placed in the home with raw Smoky Quartz clusters or even polished points and shapes. And people will often create a Smoky Quartz barrier around their home to absorb negative external energies.  It is also a wonderful gift for those born in November as it is considered one of the birthstones of that month.