Quartz Stone in Saudi Arabia

Quartz Stone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the semi-precious stones available in the Kingdom. Its chemical composition is silicon dioxide (SiO2), and it has no color. It has a hardness level of seven, a specific density of 2065, a refractive index of 1.544-1.553, and a density of 2.65 g/cm. One of its characteristics is that it scratches glass.

Quartz derived its name from a German word meaning 'very white.' It belongs to the hexagonal (trigonal) crystal system, and its most common form in nature is a hexagonal prism. The transparent varieties of quartz exhibit a glassy luster.

There are several colors of quartz, including golden yellow, which resembles golden topaz and yellow sapphire, making it difficult to differentiate between them. Quartz may have a violet color, and this variety is called amethyst, which is one of the most beautiful and valuable varieties. Quartz sometimes has a pink color 'Rose Quartz,' similar to kunzite stones that are pink in color. Smoky Quartz is characterized by its smoky brown color, tinged with gray. Additionally, quartz crystals can sometimes combine three or four colors, such as purple, green, and brown; known as Ametrine. Meanwhile, colorless quartz is known as Rock Crystal.

There is a microcrystalline quartz called Chalcedony, that exists in different colors and often appears in horizontal or circular bands. This variety is categorized into types like Agate, a multicolored banded variety, and Onyx, a banded black and white form of agate. Other types include Carnelian, a reddish-brown translucent agate; Chrysoprase, a translucent apple green agate; Plasma Stone, a dark green opaque agate; and Bloodstone, also called Heliotrope, a green agate with red or brown spots.

Transparent Quartz Stones are among the most widespread in the Kingdom and are often associated with granite, pegmatite, and sandstone rocks. They may be found disjointed and clustered in sand dune areas such as Hafar al-Batin, Qaisumah, az-Zulfi, al-Kharj, and al-Ula.

Light purple Amethyst has been found in some regions of the Kingdom, including Jabal al-Zubair in Wadi al-Safra, Badr Governorate, affiliated with al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province. Amethyst veins were also found in Jabal al-Kariziyah, Another site in Jabal Khanouqa, in al-Bijadiyah contains nodules with light purple amethyst crystals.

There are other sites with quartz nodules that can be used as semi-precious stones in Tabrjal, al-Jawf Province.