{"product_id":"morion-quartz-point-1","title":"Morion Quartz · Self-healed DT Point","description":"\u003cp\u003eDouble-terminated morion quartz point with self-healing on one apex — a micro-cluster re-grown over the original damage area. Almost black in color, translucent when held up to direct light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eItem details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eMineral\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eMorion Quartz (very dark smoky quartz variety, SiO₂)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eDimensions\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eRough piece — see photographs for scale (±3 mm due to natural variation)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eShape\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eDouble-terminated point with self-healing on one apex\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eFinish\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eRough, unpolished\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eHardness\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003e7 Mohs — suitable for wire wrap; protect apices during mounting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eOrigin\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial acquired from a wholesale lapidary market\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eTreatment\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eUntreated\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\n\u003cth\u003eType of piece\u003c\/th\u003e\n\n\u003ctd\u003eUnique piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThis specific piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most unique feature of this point is its self-healing: one of the apices shows a small cluster of re-grown crystallites over the area where the original crystal was damaged at some point in its geological history. Quartz can \"heal\" if hydrothermal conditions are favorable — temperature, pressure, and availability of silica in solution — by depositing new crystals on the damaged surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe color is almost black; when held up to direct light, it reveals the translucence characteristic of morion. The white clay deposits visible on edges and points are natural residues from the growth environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat is morion quartz?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorion is the darkest variety of smoky quartz: its almost black color is due to a higher density of lattice defects generated by prolonged natural irradiation. The name comes from the Latin \u003cem\u003emorion\u003c\/em\u003e, already used by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD to describe a dark black translucent stone. Unlike obsidian (opaque volcanic glass), morion is a structured mineral crystal that refracts light differently and has a hardness of 7 Mohs compared to 5-5.5 for obsidian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat kind of setting does it work for?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eWire wrap in 925 silver or other precious metals\u003c\/strong\u003e — the double termination and prismatic body facilitate anchoring the wire in the middle of the crystal, leaving both apices visible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003ePendants with framework or cage settings\u003c\/strong\u003e — the dark color contrasts especially well with oxidized silver or copper, creating pieces with dramatic character.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eMineralogical collection pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e — self-healing and double termination are features of interest to specimen collectors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSmoky quartz and morion in lapidary tradition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark smoky quartz was identified as a protective stone in Scottish Celtic traditions under the name \"cairngorm.\" Morion specifically appears in inventories of medieval apothecaries as a stone of \"apotropaic virtue,\" used in amulets and funerary settings. In the 18th and 19th centuries, dark smoky quartz specimens from the Swiss Alps and the Pyrenees were sought-after collector's items for early European mineralogists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice or a substitute for professional care.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to recognize genuine morion quartz\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenuine morion is translucent when held up to direct light; obsidian is completely opaque. Dyed smoky quartz shows color concentration in cracks and peripheries. Morion has an irregular conchoidal fracture, while glass shows a perfectly smooth and shiny conchoidal fracture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is self-healing and how does it affect the piece?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSelf-healing is the re-crystallization of quartz over a previously damaged area. The resulting crystallites are firmly adhered to the main mass. It does not compromise the stability of the piece or its use in jewelry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the color natural or treated?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural. The translucent black color of morion comes from crystal lattice defects generated by natural irradiation. No detectable treatment; no formal gemological certification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat type of jewelry is it suitable for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe double termination and prismatic body make it ideal for wire-wrapped pendants anchored in the middle of the crystal. The dark color combines especially well with oxidized 925 silver or copper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore rough minerals in our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/minerales-en-bruto\"\u003erough minerals collection\u003c\/a\u003e. For tumbled smoky quartz, visit our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/rodados\"\u003etumbled stones collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Anima Mundi Crystals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40460050759723,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0042\/8818\/4355\/products\/double-terminated-smoky-quartz-point-406870.webp?v=1699531283","url":"https:\/\/animamundicrystals.com\/en\/products\/morion-quartz-point-1","provider":"Anima Mundi Crystals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}