How Are Crystals Formed? 4 Impressive Natural Processes!

Have you ever wondered, where do crystals come from? Discover the magical creation of your favorite minerals here!

How do crystals form in nature? That is a truly ancient story. Crystals can take anywhere from hundreds of thousands of years, to millions of years to form! The oldest gemstone that geologists have ever found is a piece of Zircon from Western Australia; it’s 4.4 billion years old! That’s almost as old as the Earth itself! Read on to find out what your favorite jewel might have gone through to become the sparkling treasure it is today.

Where do Gemstones Come From?

Crystal formation occurs in different ways from natural processes depending on their environment. Minerals can form in three ways and fall into these categories:

1. Igneous
2. Sedimentary
3. Metamorphic

So how do gemstones form? Let’s dig into the interesting history of the Earth!

Igneous Rocks – Magmatic Formed Minerals

Minerals that form around the surface of the earth are called magmatic or Igneous rock. The structure of these stones resembles glass. Magmatic minerals consist of cooled magma below the surface of the earth or lava that has solidified above the ground. Due to pressure and changing temperature, these crystals grow into massive rocks over the course of millions of years. Landslides then pushed these brilliant beauties to the surface, where people mine them today. Examples include Obsidian, Peridot, Fluorite, Opal and Amethyst.

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary gemstones are ‘secondarily formed’, namely by the force of water and wind. These crystals consist of layers of compressed clay, sand grains, shells, and stones. They often began their development as pieces of rock or grains of sand that crumbled from mountains through the process of erosion. Rivers then transported these materials to lakes and oceans, attracting traces of lime and metal along the way. Over millions of years, layers started to form that became thicker and thicker, until pressure forced the water out of the layers and the minerals solidified into stone. You can therefore recognize layers or ‘bands’ in sedimentary rock. Well-known examples of this type are Calcite, Chalcedony and Turquoise.

Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rock is ‘tertiary formed’, meaning that it is made of existing crystals that have been given a second major makeover. This happens when magmatic minerals or sedimentary rocks descend to a deeper layer of the earth, for example through shifts in the soil. Under the influence of the higher temperature and pressure in this new environment, the stones hardened and their structure changes to form new crystals. Metamorphic gemstones such as Kyanite and Garnet are therefore double special!

How are Crystals Made by Meteorites?

A fourth way in which gemstones form is through meteorite impacts. This happened regularly in the early years of the earth. Such an impact released a huge amount of energy that super-heated, moved, and transformed the material present on earth. Moldavite is an example of a crystal that formed from an impact in southern Germany nearly 15 million years ago. Due to the heat, various clods of earth scattered along the Vltava, hence the name Moldavite. According to experts, this green mineral is therefore a combination of terrestrial and extraterrestrial energy – a kind of alien among the gems!

How Did Your Favorite Gem Form?

Now that you know how different groups of rocks form, it’s time for a look at the history and composition of these all-time favorites:

• Rock Crystal
• Amethyst
• Desert Rose
• Amber
• Opal

How Does Rock Crystal Form?

Rock Crystal forms from a compound of oxygen and silicon. This is actually true of all quartz types. The crystal forms under the surface of the earth under high temperatures, meaning that is an igneous rock. If magma cools slowly then is has large crystals and a transparent appearance, thus like many igneous rocks it’s crystal clear! The whiter, less transparent, sparkling variations of Rock Crystal forms when hot water in underground passages, rich with dissolved silicon dioxide, suddenly cools off. Smaller glittering crystals form through the quick cooling.

How is Amethyst Formed?

Amethyst formation occurs through both the metamorphic and sedimentary processes. It is also quartz, just like rock crystal. Inclusions of manganese, titanium and iron create the distinctive purple color. Watch out where you display this gem, the beautiful color can fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight, returning it to its clearer quartz appearance.

How Does Desert Rose Form?

Desert Rose, or Sand Rose,  forms through capillary action. This means that water flows against gravity, which then evaporates leaving behind minerals. Plaster and Barite from the evaporated water combine with a soft sandy substrate, to create Desert Rose. Did you know that some desert roses have sharp edges that can pierce the tires of a 4×4? That’s the power of crystal!

Amber Formation

In the past, there have been some wild theories about Amber formation. In the Middle Ages people had some very strange ideas about it. Some thought it was the congealed foam of whales, and others hardened honey. Finally, during the eighteenth century,  Russian scientist Michail Lomonosov discovered that Copal and Amber are the fossilized pine resin of the Pinus Succinifera. When this resin lacks oxygen, it petrifies, sometimes with plants and animals still in it! Connoisseurs can determine the age and value of Amber based on these inclusions. The more stowaways in it, the more expensive the Amber.

How Does Opal form?

Opal formed beneath the Earth’s surface in ancient geothermal hot springs from minerals in the water. According to experts, these minerals bubbled up with the water, and deposited themselves onto rocks along the walls and cavities. Different colors of Opal originate in different crevices, some even inside of fossils! Just don’t confuse Opal with Opalite: this synthetic stone is made of glass and made by human hands.

Want to know more about Gemstones?

Now that you know how Gemstones form, check out a couple of our other blogs for all the information you need to start collecting in confidence! Can you Recognize Authentic Gems and distinguish them from the fake ones? Or do you want more insight into Which Crystals Suit’s You or someone else’s character or stage of life. Or find out more about Birthstones , which are a great reminder of loved ones, like you’re children for example. If you are already starting to become a real crystal expert, immerse yourself in Gemstone Matching. For example, it is possible to choose Gems by Color and use them for specific purposes. Also, with some knowledge about mixing and matching minerals, you can Make Your Own Gemstone Water. From Wicca to Balancing Chakras, there is a gemstone practice for everyone!

Check Out Our Whole Assortment of Gemstones & Minerals