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Quartz

Geology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A common crystalline mineral found in many rocks. It often suggests clarity, hardness, light, or hidden structure.

Detailed Definition
Quartz is a durable mineral composed of silicon dioxide and found in veins, sands, and crystalline rocks. Its varied forms, from clear crystal to smoky or rose-colored stone, make it a versatile poetic image. It can stand for clarity that is hard won, for light caught within matter, or for a small enduring thing in a fractured landscape. Because quartz survives weathering well, it may also represent what remains after softer materials have been carried away.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Quartz flashed in the creek bed whenever sunlight entered the water” uses quartz for brightness and detail; “A vein of quartz ran through the rock like a white sentence” turns mineral pattern into poetic imagery; A poet may write, “He kept a quartz pebble for its small, clear certainty,” using the stone as a symbol of steadiness; “Quartz crystals caught the moonlight in the abandoned mine” creates an atmosphere of discovery
Additional Notes
Quartz is a durable mineral made chiefly of silicon dioxide and appears in many colors, not only clear crystal form. It can bring images of glint, fracture, and hidden order. Related concepts include crystals, mineral veins, and the hardness of stone.
Other Meanings of “Quartz”
Also Known As
Silica Rock Crystal
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