A crystal is made when a certain type of liquid gets cooled down and it becomes harder. Crystals basically consist of geometric shapes that are repeated on a regular basis. Emeralds, for example, are crystals and they are created when the magma ejected by active volcanoes cools down. However, this process can take hundreds or even thousands of years. Here are more interesting facts about crystals.
Diamonds are in fact crystals
Diamonds are made from organized molecules and they usually feature different types of shapes. Diamonds are also known for reflecting the light differently and that is why they might feature certain nuances of yellow, red or blue. However, at the end of the day, diamonds are basically crystals. In a similar fashion, rubies and many other precious stones are considered to be crystals as they have formed when the earth liquids cooled down over periods of hundreds of thousands of years.
Your watch features a crystal
Quartz is actually a crystal and watches which feature the tag “quartz” on them contain one or more crystals in their mechanisms. The quartz is also responsible for the accuracy of these watches. Therefore, next time when you take a look at your watch, you will remember that the elements of Mother Nature help you be on time at work.
Crystals come in various shapes
Almost all shapes can create crystals of different sizes such as triangles, rectangles, squares, and many others. Additionally, the shape of a particular crystal is given by the chemical bonds between the elements that compose it.
Snowflakes are actually crystals
Snowflakes are formed in the clouds and they are considered to be ice crystals. They also feature numerous and very beautiful shapes and designs. If you would put a snowflake under the microscope, you would be amazed by the beauty and complexity of it. However, you would have to do this quickly before this ice crystal melts.
Crystallographers are people who study crystals
Crystals are very interesting elements and they have been studied by researchers for ages. In fact, a person who studies crystals is called a crystallographer.
Crystals have the ability to store an enormous amount of information
Crystals are often used in various electronic devices and gadgets to store information. These elements can hold a great amount of data for a very long period of time. For example, researchers estimate that a crystal of the size of a football is capable of storing all the knowledge in the world. That actually means all the information about our planet, mathematics, physics, science, carpentry, arts, etc combined.
Crystals are believed to possess healing energies
For thousands of years, crystals have fascinated people from all over the world. It is commonly believed that because of their organized structure, crystals actually have healing abilities and they can cure certain types of diseases over a period of several months, weeks or even days.
Crystals are usually created naturally
Most of the crystals in the world have come from natural sources, meaning that they have been produced by Mother Nature. However, scientists have also found ways to create crystals under controlled conditions in the lab. Additionally, some living organisms are also capable of producing different types of crystals throughout their lifetime.
Crystals have sharp edges
Raw and unpolished crystals pose a risk of injury because of their very sharp edges. Also, all crystals consist of multiple flat surfaces which are called facets. However, crystals also have their imperfections, most commonly encountered when their inner geometrically shapes are distorted.
The color of the crystal depends on various factors
Crystals feature a myriad of beautiful nuances and colors. These nuances are given by the mineral from which the crystal is made and the way the atoms that compose the crystal reflect the light. For example, amethyst, a well-known type of crystal, takes its impressive nuance from the iron it contains.
Crystals are everywhere these days
It is only that you might not be aware of this yet. You can find crystals in jewelry pieces, most electronic devices found in your kitchen, even the salt you eat is actually a form of crystal. Quartz is also found in computers, mobile phones, radio devices, and other items.
Crystals are split into 4 main categories
Depending on their shape and other important factors, crystals can be categorized into four groups. These groups include ionic, molecular, covalent or metallic.
X-rays are used to study the structure of crystals
Crystallographers make use of sophisticated and technologically advanced devices to study crystals. For example, they use x-rays to find out more information about the structure of crystals. The x-rays are sent at different angles into the crystal and they get back, forming an image of the actual crystal.
Crystals are fascinating elements and that’s why we use them in creating our customized trophies and awards. Our personalized crystal awards can be offered to your employees to motivate and reward them for their hard work. Check out our website to admire our stunning crystal awards and trophies!
