Cheap Crystals Online – Our Top 7 Cheap Natural Crystals
Are you looking for Cheap Crystals Online here in Australia? I can almost assure you that natural crystals are never cheap as they are all products of Mother Nature.
What you will tend to find though is the cheap crystals you are looking to buy are smaller versions of their larger counterparts.
Nearly every crystal you see in the range below can be bought in either small or large chunks.
A great example is Rose Quartz. Some people put massive blocks or rose quartz crystal around their home, and these blocks can weigh over 250kgs.
A 250kg block of Rose quartz might sell for $8,750.
But you can also buy a small natural rose quartz chunk for $8 or 1,000 times less 😉
Top 10 Cheap Crystals Online
1. Amethyst clusters & small amethyst crystals
Amethyst clusters are by far the most popular starting piece for every crystal lover.
People of all walks are immediately attracted to the beautiful purple tones of the Amethyst crystal.
Amethyst has such natural, lovely energy about it.
Amethyst clusters come in all range of sizes and shapes, but you can buy them cheaply for as little as $5.
You can also get lovely amethyst word stones for as little as $10. They will have words like Harmony or gratitude, love and abundance on them. These are a lovely gift idea too.
2. Rose quartz chunks and polished gemstones
Rose quartz is the pinkish stone linked to love and romance.
Both rose quartz and amethyst are the two most popular crystals loved by all.
Every home should have some rose quartz lying around.
Rose quartz is by far the most popular Feng Shui Crystal.
You can get word stones as well with lovely engravings of gratitude, Faith and Angel for example.
You can also buy rose quartz palm stones, which are lovely to have in your pocket or purse at all times.
3. Crystal Healing Stone Sets
The crystal healing stone sets are just $10.
And you have 12 beautiful combinations to choose from.
The 12 crystal kits you get to choose from include De-Stress, Friendship, Good Health, Good Luck, Happiness, Healing, Inner Peace, Love, Protection, Purification, Safe Travel & Wealth.
For example, the Wealth Kit comes with:
- Fluorite polished stone
- New Jade polished stone
- Tiger Eye polished stone
Then the Love Kit comes with the following tumbled gemstones:
- Rose Quartz – Promotes love
- Aventurine Green – Brings joy, love and happiness
- Fluorite – Promotes intuition and understanding
They come beautifully packaged and have a sheet to explain the benefits of each crystal.
At all times of the year and especially around Mothers Day, Valentine’s Day and Xmas, the crystal healing stone sets are trendy.
4. Premium Healing Crystal Kit – 7 Chakras Set
You may be thinking that anything with the word premium in it is hardly going to be a cheap crystal.
But the reason the 7 Chakras kit made it into this list is due to how well-priced the whole kit is.
Individually, the kit would cost quite a lot as it contains the following crystals:
- a lovely piece of rose quartz
- an amethyst cluster
- a clear quartz point
- a 7 chakra pendulum
- 7 chakra tumble stones including lapis lazuli, clear quartz, amethyst, tigers eye, red jasper, carnelian, amazonite
This kit is perfect for those who want a well-rounded starter kit of crystals including the lovely amethyst cluster and rose quartz natural chunk. Plus you get the 7 chakra stones, a piece of clear quartz and a 7 chakra pendulum.
Wow.
Or if you want to get a gift for a friend who is interested in crystals, this kit is perfect.
You can also get crystal healing jewellery if that is your preference.
5. Palm stones and gemstones
Palm stones and inspirational word stones are some of the top-selling styles of crystals.
Everyone loves to be able to hold their crystals and palm stones are perfect for this.
Most palm stones come in around the $8 price point, which is cheap for a natural crystal.
Obviously, as a result of having to polish these into a beautiful palm stone, they are higher in price than if they were a small rough cut.
But it is the number of uses that makes these so appealing.
Given their size, people love to carry them around in their pocket or purse. They are perfect for both guys and girls.
The other primary use for palm stones is meditation.
When it comes to meditation, people love to program their crystals and set their intentions.
So you pick up your favourite palm stone and while in your meditative state, program your affirmations or intentions into your crystal.
This serves as an anchor. So every time you pick up your palm stone, you are anchored back to those intentions you set.
Your intentions could be your goals, your affirmations, your positive energy, your goodwill or it could be an anchor to just to get into your meditative state faster.
6. Selenite hearts, palm stones and mini towers
Selenite is such a pure energy stone and can even charge your other crystals.
People love the pure white colour of the selenite, and in particular, the energy each piece gives off.
From as little as $13, you can pick up a lovely selenite palm stone or even a selenite mini tower.
The other cheap selenite piece is the polished heart, which comes in around $15.
You can use your selenite in the following ways:
- Place a selenite tower on both sides of your computer monitor
- Meditate with your palm stone or heart to raise your energy
- Place four mini towers in each corner of your favourite room to increase the energy of that room. Many like to do this in either their office, bedroom or both.
Selenite is also the stone to give you peace of mind and clarity in your thinking. The perfect crystal to have around your office where clarity of thinking is very beneficial.
Remember, selenite is an excellent crystal to cleanse your other crystals too.
7. Orgonite Merkaba
The orgonite Merkaba’s are by far the highest selling orgonites simply because their price point is just $10.
The shape of the Merkaba is unique. Each Merkaba is a two-star tetrahedron.
You have one star pointing up towards the guiding light or the heavens. The second star points downwards and is drawing energy from Mother Earth.
“Mer” means Light. “Ka” means Spirit. “Ba” means Body.
They come in the seven chakra stones and many purchase the full set of 7 Chakra Merkaba’s.
You will love to have one on and around your desk. The unique shape is great to have in your hand.
Like a fidget spinner, people love to play with these while they are thinking of ideas.
They are helpful in boosting your energy and allowing your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Cheap crystals for sale
As you can see, there are a number of cheap crystals for sale online and at our Sydney display.
But remember, it isn’t that they are cheap, it is just that the cheapest crystals online are smaller than their larger versions.
A stunning amethyst cluster geode cave can be thousands of dollars, whereas a small amethyst cluster from Brazil starts at just $5.
Both of these are lovely Brazilian amethyst crystals but one is a fantastic geode cave, and the other is a beautiful stone you place on your desk or around your home.
Types of cheap crystals you can buy
You have a wide selection of crystals to choose from, and they come in a variety of styles, including
- Crystal jewellery
- Pendants
- Crystal clusters
- Palm stones
- Gemstones and crystals
- Polished pieces
- Word stones
- Crystals for kids
- And more…
You can then use these crystals for home decor, around your gardens, in your bedroom and to carry with you at all times.
Many love to meditate with their smaller crystals as they fit perfectly in their hand.
Where can I buy cheap crystals online?
The beauty of being online is you can choose your crystals from any online store no matter where you live in Australia.
We even wrote a blog post on how to buy crystals online – Our top 7 tips to help you buy crystals in Australia.
You could live in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Tasmania or Coffs Harbour and buy cheap crystals online.
Hopefully, we have done our job with you on our site here, and you love our collection of cheap crystals online. We also hope you like our expensive crystals too 😉
Scroll back up to the top to see our main crystal collections and then you can sort each crystal from low price to high price.
Peace and love.
Where to Buy Crystals Online
Getty/John Francis
Anyone else need all the good vibes they can get? Or maybe you just want to trade in your go-to charm necklace for something a little. ..~vibier~? Fans of crystals say these sparkly rocks vibrate on frequencies that can connect with our own, promoting intelligence, calmness, self-love, and all sorts of other positive qualities. They work like this: The crystal’s energy combines with our own vibes, creating a whole new wavelength that has specific qualities. And hey, if you’re not sure about all that, even crystal skeptics have to agree that they’re pretty, right?
There tons of way you can use a crystal: You can wear one on a piece of jewelry, place one on your bedside table, set them throughout your home, meditate with them, set them on your altar, and even carry one with you in your bra. Of course, you can also use them as decor, because even skeptics have to admit these lil guys are gorgeous.
A note on crystal shopping: There aren’t any international regulations on crystal mining, and some crystals on the market have been mined by forced or child labor, or severely impact the environment they’re mined from. When you’re crystal shopping, avoid crystals that seem suspiciously cheap, and seek out shops that share info on their sourcing practices. If in doubt, you can always ask the retailer where their crystals come from. If they don’t know, that’s a bad sign. (For more on ethical crystal shopping, read this piece.)
If you can’t stroll on down to your local witch shop these days (what, you don’t have one of those?), you can find plenty of crystals online. Here are some of them:
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1The Spirit Nectar
Amethyst Bottle Necklace TheSpiritNectar etsy.com$37.58
Etsy seller The Spirit Nectar offers sustainable, fair trade crystals and donates $1 from every sale.
2Moonrise Crystal
Peacock Ore MoonriseCrystal etsy.
$11.00
Hawaii-based retailer Moonrise Crystal lets you sort your rocks by color.
3House of NteKKah
The “Royal” Chakra Set with Clearing Selenite Slab HouseOfNteKKah etsy.com$55.55
Black-owned retailer House of NteKKah offers crystal sets featuring hand-selected stones, as well as individual crystals and other metaphysical products.
4Peach and Pixie
Rose Quartz Point PeachAndPixie etsy.com$28.88
Rose quartz is one of the most popular crystals, because it’s intended to promote self-love, love-love, and healing. Peach and Pixie, another Black-owned brand, offers a wide variety of different crystals in different shapes.
5Aquarian Soul
Gemstone Facial Rollers Aquarian Soul shopaquariansoul.
$30.00
Along with individual crystals, Aquarian Soul offers crystal-focused wellness products like facial rollers and bath soaks.
6Happy Soul Online
Pendulum – AventurineAlong with a variety of crystals in different shapes and sizes, Happy Soul Online offers rare gems—like a $10,000, gigantic amethyst.
7Sankofa Living
2.5″ Selenite Towers SankofaLiving etsy.com$6.50
Black-owned shop Sankofa Living takes its name from a word used by the Akan tribe in Ghana, translating to “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.”
8House of Intuition
Mercury Retrograde Crystal Set House of Intuition houseofintuitionla.$20.00
L.A.-based shop House of Intuition offers crystals selected for a variety of purposes, including this Mercury Retrograde kit (I need it).
9Created By Navajo Hands
Navajo Handmade Sterling Silver Bracelet with Turqouise CreatedByNavajoHands etsy.com$185.00
Navajo-owned brand Created By Navajo Hands features jewelry with gemstones like turquoise and tiger’s eye.
10Bonearrow
Queen of the Underworld Ring in Garnet RING SIZES bonearrow.com£85.00
For ethically-sourced, vegan, creatively-designed jewelry featuring crystals and gemstones, check out UK-based Bonearrow.
11Energy Muse
Rainbow Moonstone Moon Necklace energy muse energymuse.
$99.95
Whether you’re looking for crystal jewelry, crystal sets, crystal bath soaks, or just plain ol’ crystals, Energy Muse has it.
12Kotah Bear
Multi Stone Arches BandDiné-owned brand Kotah Bear features jewelry and accessories handcrafted by Native American artisans.
13Seven Gems Shop
Rose Quartz Star Sphere SevenGemsShop etsy.com$14.00
Bay Area-based, Black-owned crystal shop Seven Gems offers ethically-sourced crystals at a variety of budgets, including a featured section of those under $25.
14Modern Mystic Shop
Carnelian Skull Modern Mystic Shop modernmysticshop.com$28.00
Hello, yes, I do need a skull-shaped crystal.
The Zen Company
Rose Quartz Crystal Pyramid TheZenCompany etsy.com$25.00
Black-owned business The Zen Company offers handmade crystal pyramids and jewelry.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
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10 Best Online Stores For Cheap Crystals (Crystal Haul!)
Are you a massive lover of beautiful, real crystals – but also love a good deal? Here are my favourite 10 affordable online stores for crystals and stones – and a little haul too!
Hello, gorgeous humans – welcome to the post I have been dying to share with you all for weeks. Seriously, I’ve been like a kid at Christmas, eagerly waiting by the door for the postman to bring me presents. But it’s here; we’ve made it.
If you guys have kept an eye on my blog recently, you may have seen numerous crystal-related crafts popping up. I’ve made some crystal planters and re-vamped the IKEA Moppe Drawers with some witchy handles. It’s been a mood. You saw my bullet journal set-up, guys – August is the month for magic.
So in the spirit of magic, I’m going to be sharing my top 10 online store to buy affordable but unique crystals!
I would love if you guys watched my haul video first, though! If you enjoyed, make sure to hop on over to Youtube and subscribe!
Okay, I am utterly obsessed with FreedomRocksCo. They’ve got such a fabulous range of beautiful – but also incredibly unique – crystals and you can get some really large ones for a wonderfully cheap price point too! Here are some of my favourites they have to offer . . .
Rainbow Quartz Tower – $18 // Amethyst Slab – $17
Unity Is The Key is a UK based Etsy seller (sticking true to my roots!) and they really stand out to me because of the utterly gorgeous crystal towers they sell! To tell you the truth, I didn’t even know half of these stones existed, but get in my post box please! I think the Caribbean calcite has to be my favourite because it just looks like a dreamy beach . . . in a crystal!
Moss Agate Tower – $21 // Caribbean Calcite Tower – $27
Do you love displaying crystals around your home? Why not try making these gorgeous crystal planters?
Wholesale and Bulk Quartz Crystals for Sale
Jimmy Crabb has been a pleasure to do business with. Not only does he offer a wide variety of rare/high quality minerals but he and his friendly staff pay the upmost attention to keeping their customers happy. I highly recommend this guy!! – ***Anna LeBlank, USA*** Professional, glad to have found them. – ***Robert Hideg, USA*** Jimmy Crabb and Ian Wolff are very professional team. Trustworthy, honest and fair in prices to everyone. Highly recommended to the selling community .- ***Rita Wroten, USA*** Great looking Crystals, Fun to watch shows – *** Tim Zin, USA*** Beautiful crystals and minerals (some hard to find) at very reasonable prices. Always enjoyable doing business with Jimmy. – ***Ragnheidur Osp Sigurdardottir, Iceland*** Great, trustworthy, and honest seller for sure, been doing business with him for a couple years now from the USA and will continue for sure! – ***David Witt, USA*** Great crystals and minerals offfered, direct from the mines. Many rarities not often found elsewhere. – ***Steven T Barr, USA*** He has excellent gemstones and great prices! He is very knowable and informative! Wonderful seller, quick responses, over all excellent experience with him! ***Stacy Anderson, USA*** The crystals I received are so stunning! Thank you Jimmy for the amazing price and for shipping everything so quickly! I have received the best service, and I will purchase from this shop again!- ***Aleksandra Vavilova. New York, USA***
Your #1 source for quartz crystals from a wide variety of worldwide locations.
I have been supplying minerals and wholesale crystals for over 20 years and have built up a large network of suppliers and small time artisinal miners all over Southern Africa.
Being at the source of the many varieties of quartz crystals means I am able to supply top quality crystals at very reasonable wholesale prices, without a chain of middle men pushing up the prices.
It also means that I can supply orders of virtualy any quantity – if you don’t see it on the wholesale quartz crystals pages, just drop me an email and ask.
DHL Express and Fedex are our carriers of choice and and packages are often delivered within 2 days worldwide.
Please note that we are shipping from Johannesburg, South Africa and while we have negotiated the best possible shipping rates from DHL and Fedex, the cost per kilogram gets progressivly better the heavier the total order is, which is why we recommend stockpiling a few orders over a period of time and combining the shipping. Please drop me an e-mail or a Facebook message to get the “free” shipping code and we will only bill you when you are ready for us to pack and send.
How to Shop Smart and Avoid FAKE Crystals
There has been a LOT of talk in the online community about fake Crystals and stones. The fear is much more real than I realized (or I would have written this blog post much sooner!).
The first thing to do is relax. Take a deep breath and smile. You’ve come to the right place and I promise you, it is way easier than you think to avoid fake Crystals.
As a side note, I want to mention that I use the terms ‘Crystals’ and ‘stones’ interchangeably in this article as many Crystal Healers do.
Crystals operate on higher vibrational frequencies up toward love and light (if you want to regularly learn more about them AND receive a FREE introductory guide to how and why Crystals work, consider signing up for my newsletter by clicking here).
So with that in mind, let’s let go of fear. We can shop smart and make informed purchases without bringing fear into it at all, even when we goof up.
If you have ever purchased a fake Crystal only to find out later, that is OKAY- it says NOTHING about you or how awesome you are (hint: you’re pretty awesome). Take it as a learning experience and move forward by avoiding that seller. Keep it if you want, no big deal! If the fake one no longer brings you joy, gift it to someone else (you can be honest that it no longer resonates with you but there may be someone who would adore it as an artistic expression of a Crystal).
So let’s discuss the term at hand here: FAKE.
Take a moment (and a breath!).
I’ll say it again- FAKE.
Notice the feelings it brings up in you. Fear? Doubt? Unworthiness? Poser? You are not the Crystal. Real or fake. You do not need to identify with it. You are an eternal spiritual being having a temporary human experience and you enjoy working with Crystals to raise your vibrational frequency. Wonderful! Me too! We work with many other tools to do this as well. We are not the tools. We are the conscious awareness working toward remembering ourselves by working with a variety of tools and experiences. When we disconnect from identifying with things that otherwise bring us fear (thereby lowing our vibrational frequency), we can look through a more objective lens and make more informed decisions. After all, fear puts the brain and body in ‘fight or flight’ mode and research shows us that we do not learn as easily or retain the information as well as when we are not in that mode. So let’s all exit the ‘fight or flight’ mode subconsciously brought on by the fear associated with the term, ‘fake’, and move into the realm of love and learning. Smiling is AMAZING, give it a try- hooray for learning! (I know, I’m a super nerd)
That all being said, let’s learn more about what the term ‘fake crystal’ actually means…
I did a poll recently on Instagram asking my 44k+ followers what the term, ‘fake crystal’, means to them. Here’s what most people said:
Glass
Plastic
Dyed
Chemically Altered
Heated
Imposters (something cheaper being marketed as something more expensive)
Homemade/synthetic/other
Whoa. That’s a long list! But I completely understand and these ARE accurate concerns to learn more about. Fortunately, most are actually easier to dispel that you might think.
How to avoid fake Crystals
Buy from a reputable seller. This would be someone who is not a new seller. Someone who has plenty of positive reviews, followers, and experience. Someone who will easily answer your Crystal questions/concerns or help you find the answer.
Opt for raw/rough stones. You can literally see the growth structures in rough/raw Crystals and stones which are a huge determining factor in identification. Tumbled and polished are a whole different scenario. The Moh’s hardness scale (discussed later in this post) does not work as well on tumbled/polished crystals and stones and it is nearly impossible to determine whether a tumbled/polished stone is dyed.
Let’s talk about man made genuine Crystals…
‘Crystal’ actually refers to the extremely organized atomic growth structures- many things are genuine crystals such as snowflakes and salt (but these are very fragile and wouldn’t make good impersonations in my opinion).
What about homemade Crystals and stones?
The only actual Crystals the average person (since most Crystal sellers are actual people, not huge corporations) can MAKE or GROW in their home are potassium alum or borax Crystals (to my knowledge). Have you ever made them? Search for the diy on youtube and try it yourself. It’s a fun little project BUT the end result is a very specific Crystal formation that is often EXTREMELY fragile. I honestly doubt it could even survive shipping, let alone be a reasonable impersonation (it would definitely not have the same chemical composition as the real thing). That being said, this would be a dishonest practice to sell homemade crystals as, for example, Quartz. Become familiar with potassium alum and borax Crystals and their unique crystalline formation by doing the diy yourself and comparing the end result to other Crystals in your collection.
Growing or making Crystals at home beyond the methods I mentioned above is just not something that is happening. No one is growing Quartz Crystals in their home (to my knowledge! What a feat that would be!)
Constant fakes to avoid:
There are some Crystals and stones that are ALWAYS glass because that’s just what they are and they do not form naturally ever- goldstone, cats eye, and opalite (different than Opal) ARE NOT Crystals or stones and are most commonly made of glass (or occasionally plastic). Obsidian is black volcanic glass created by the Earth but colored Obsidian (often seen as blue or green) is simply dyed, manmade glass.
Glass and plastic being sold as Crystals:
This leads me to the Moh’s Hardness Scale. Everything has a hardness that rates on this scale from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamonds). Glass is a 5.5, your fingernail is a 2/2.5,plastic is 3-4, borax crystals are 2.5, Quartz is a 7. The concept behind the hardness scale is that any object higher on the scale can scratch any surface that is lower. For example, Quartz can scratch both plastic and glass but neither can scratch the Quartz.
This doesn’t work as well with tumbled or polished stones because you would need to potentially scratch some of the finish off and damage the stone. Another reason to stick with raw/rough Crystals and stones.
Another consideration that applies to glass and plastic is the price (cheaper is not better), location of the seller (for some reason, much of the polished stones from China are glass), and whether the crystal is even realistic to have been made from these mediums. Creating a raw/rough Crystal from glass is unrealistic (consider how glass is formed) and could be spotted pretty easily as such. Crystals are like rocks- they have imperfections, sharp edges, and a variety of textures. Glass is more uniform (hence the use of glass when impersonating a polished Fluorite tower, for example).
Plastic in the form of resin can be poured into a mold, dyed, and shaped with a Dremel tool to look just like a genuine stone- even a raw/rough one. Fortunately plastic is pretty light weight and that would definitely expose it in addition to easily checking it on the hardness scale. Plus, creating resin Crystals is not a simple process. Time consuming for SURE and although many people do not value their time as they should, I still think that selling resin Crystals as impersonations of the real thing would not be a sound business model that could last long. Stick with a reputable seller to avoid this. Also paying attention to item descriptions is a big deal in avoiding this. Most people who make Crystals out of resin are doing so as an artistic expression of a Crystal, not actually trying to trick you. They add glitter or dried flowers, or super vibrant, unnatural dyes. Be sure to communicate your questions with potential sellers. Any seller that is legit will be happy to respond to your questions. I’ve been selling Crystals and stones for 7.5 years, I have over 25,000 sales and 100,000 followers across social media but I STILL happily answer questions (especially questions asked via Etsy message).
Dyed, chemically altered, or heated
These concepts do not potentially apply to ALL Crystals and stones since not all minerals can even hold onto the dye or are altered by heat/chemicals. Quartz is going to be the main concern here because it is the most commonly dyed stone. Quartz is actually an umbrella term that covers so many Crystals and stones with the same chemical composition. Some examples of Quartz are Amethyst, Citrine, Aventurine, Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Lithium Quartz, Amphibole Quartz, Agates, Chalcedony, Carnelian, and more.
Agates are very very often dyed. If it was cheap and has bands (sort of like stripes but not in straight lines per se), it’s probably an agate. If it is not some variation of red, brown, yellow, or white (you know, natural Earthy colors), it is probably dyed. For some reason, dying a stone makes its value decrease.
The other most commonly dyed Crystal is Amethyst. These would be clusters that are a sort of sickly vibrant color (cough syrup colors!). Once you see a dyed one, you will get what I mean. Again, the price is lower than natural. If you see a huge strangely vibrant Amethyst Crystal for like $10-20, it’s most likely dyed. Natural Amethyst clusters cost approximately $6-10 for a 1-2 inch piece and go up in price quickly from there. If you want a display Amethyst (natural), expect to pay $40-300 for something in the range of 5-10 inches. The large cathedral Amethysts? Several thousand dollars!
While we are discussing Amethyst, let’s touch on Citrine (both are varieties of Quartz). Everyone loves to hate on poor Citrine. Natural Citrine is heated in the Earth over long periods of time and has a uniform smokey yellow/green color. It is fairly rare (even more rare in cluster formations) and has a high price point that reflects this. Commercially marketed Citrine is mostly Amethyst that is heated with high temperatures in a lab which changes the Crystals from purple to yellow/orange. They are cheaper and extremely common. Easily identified by their white base. Natural Citrine is a uniform color, like I said, with a more smokey/greenish/yellow tint. Heated Amethyst has the white base with more vibrant yellow/orange/red Crystals. Both are Quartz and both are associated with the lower Chakras for healing. The difference here comes down to preference. The only altered stone I sell in my shop is heated Amethyst Citrine as I find the disposition to be pleasant and sunny. I enjoy working with them professionally and personally. I’m also honest about it and disclose this throughout my site.
I hear a lot of people taking issue with Citrine but not many realize that there are so many Crystals and stones that are heated. This includes Aquamarine, Tanzanite, Rubies, Sapphires, Topaz, Zircon, Tourmaline, Amazonite, and more. Heating them at high temperatures enhances color and improves clarity. Many gemstones in jewelry were heated and would otherwise be insanely expensive. You can ask your seller about this but because it is such a common practice, I doubt they would even know. In my opinion, it doesn’t actually matter. What matters is whether you resonate with it. If you don’t, just move on and avoid the ones I listed. If you are so scared of purchasing Crystals and stones online due to the potential of heating, I would recommend digging up your own. There are actually quite a few places where the public is able to pay a small fee and rockhound Crystals and stones right out of the Earth. Some people even strike it rich from this!
Some Crystals and stones are created in a lab. Often referred to as ‘synthetic’ or ‘lab grown’. Malachite is commonly synthetic for example (compare prices and ask questions). And nearly all Rubies.
Turquoise is EXTREMELY commonly NOT Turquoise. Almost all of the Turquoise on the market today is dyed Howlite, ceramic, or plastic. Price point is a big teller here. Natural Turquoise is expensive and not a uniform color throughout. Natural is a 5-6 on the Moh’s hardness scale whereas Howlite is a 3-4. Compare prices, look at the coloring, and ask questions.
Other forms of chemically altered Crystals is not something I am aware of. To my knowledge there is not a chemical that can be poured onto any Crystals that would alter them in such a way as to increase their value.
The last altered stone I want to touch on is Aura Quartz
This one gets tricky because the more popular something is (rainbows and shimmers- no wonder!), more the likely it is that tricksters come out of the woodwork to get their cut of potential sales. This is the unfortunate reality. Although Aura Quartz Crystals are not natural, they are (in their ‘genuine’ form) actual Quartz Crystals. The process is actually very neat (but not something just anyone can do at home). Aura Quartz Crystals are genuine Quartz Crystals that have been placed in a vacuum chamber and layered with precious metal gasses (gold, platinum, silver, titanium, etc). The different metals/combinations produce a variety of colors, rainbow effects, and shimmery beauty fit for a unicorn. They are not fake but they can be coated in something other than precious metals. Good Aura Quartz Crystals are expensive. Fakes would be where a Quartz Crystal is painted with iridescent paint or coated in an iridescent plastic sheet. The fake ones are pretty obvious since the rainbow effect will come off super easy. Buy these with a big budget from a reputable seller.
The takeaway:
-Get informed. Growth structures to be aware of based on the unique stone you are looking for, colors to avoid, commonly synthetic/altered, etc. Knowledge really is power.
-Become familiar with the Moh’s hardness scale. Do not do a scratch test without asking first unless you have already purchased it.
-Learn your personal preferences. Follow your unique bliss and try not to be consumed by the fear that invades our society these days. If you like it, keep it. If you don’t, don’t keep it. Your identity does not rest on the validity others place on your collection. For example, I stopped buying Turquoise jewelry because it was too difficult to determine the validity. No big deal! And if I see a piece of Turquoise jewelry (sold by a reputable seller at the expected high price) that resonates with me, you bet I’ll still buy it! (Ahem, pending my wallet’s approval!)
-Buy from a reputable seller. Check out their reviews. How long have they been selling? Do they have a decent amount of followers and history to show that they take their business seriously? Ask questions.
I think I have addressed most of the concerns expressed in response to my Instagram story but if I missed anything, shoot me an email and I will add it to this blog post.
Shop genuine Crystals, read reviews, check out other blog posts, and more by clicking here!
Rock, Crystals and Gemstones | Canada and US Wholesaler — Stonebridge Imports
All the Gems You Need Under One Roof
It’s hard to find that one specimen you’ve been looking for when you’re shopping through very limited choices. So cut to the chase; pick a supplier that can constantly provide you with any and all the stones you need.
StoneBridge Imports offers the vastest selection of genuine rocks, crystals, and precious and semi-precious gemstones in Canada. From wholesale healing crystals, cut and polished stones, to unique crystal specimens, there’s always something here for everyone!
Rocks vs. stones vs. crystals: What’s the difference?These terms are often used interchangeably in the gem trade, but each one is actually different from the other.
A rock is a natural material consisting of one or multiple minerals. It can either be hard or soft. Some common examples of a rock are Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli, Unakite, and Soapstone.
A crystal is a material made of ions, atoms, and molecules arranged in an ordered pattern or structure to become solid. Diamond, Quartz, Emerald, and Ruby are crystals.
Whereas a gemstone is a piece of rock or mineral that has been cut and polished for various uses. It is made through geological or man-made processes. Popular gems include Amethyst, Agate, and Amber.
To learn more about their differences, read this article written by our founder and rock specialist, Ulymar Rocha.
What are they used for?From the ancient times up until today, rocks, crystals, and gemstones have a broad range of uses in our day-to-day lives. Rocks are a significant material in making electronics, cosmetic products, and appliances.
Crystals and gemstones are primarily used in jewelry making and lapidary arts where they are cut, carved, and polished into decorative pieces like cabochons, facets, and engraved gems.
For years, rocks, crystals, and gemstones are believed to possess healing energies and unique vibrations. That’s why they are widely used in crystal healing and meditation. Many cultures across the globe see them as sacred elements that help transform, clear, and align their physical health, energy, and spirit.
To know more about crystal healing, read this article.
Why trust StoneBridge Imports?High quality selection
Our products were sourced from Canada, Brazil, India, Mexico, Madagascar, the US, and other parts of the world. These natural beauties were carefully mined, cut, polished, and transported to our warehouse accessibly located in Kitchener, ON.
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You can get progressive discounts when you buy your rocks, gemstones, and healing crystals in bulk. Create your retailer account today to see our full list of discounted prices.
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There’s no minimum order required, we accept orders of any size of rock! You will benefit from a long lasting business relationship with us. Also, we do our best to ship your orders to your location as soon as possible, wherever you may be in Canada or the US.
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Can’t find the rocks and crystals you have in mind? Send us a message and our rock specialists will find it for you.
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Raw, Rough, Natural Gemstones & Crystal Clusters
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Debunking the myth of rose quartz crystals
With this post we begin the publication of selected chapters of the second volume of Beauty Myths by Tiina Orasmäe-Meder and Yana Zubtsova.
I thought for a long time what kind of myth to open this series of publications. We have a lot of debunked myths in our store – both about the health risks of some SPF filters (coming soon), and about the fact that “normal” skin does not exist, and why the microbiome and all these pre- and probiotics are not intrigues marketers, and how to properly use cloth masks.
In general, the book will be a bomb. Trust Tiina and me.
But this myth about the miraculousness of crystals is, it seems to me, the most important.If we do a little bit to stop the world hysteria – it’s already good. And the fact that my acquaintances are engaged in this business (and, perhaps, they will also think about it) is good-2.
Scary fashion concept yoga studio Inscape at 7th Avenue and 21st Street, New York (exact address: 45 West 21st Street, New York, New York). Assortment – Crystals and Sexuality Guides from G. Paltrow. Photo – Ya.Z.In short, please welcome. And write whatever you think. It is possible that your comments and answers to them will also be included in the book.
MYTH ABOUT MAGIC CRYSTALS
Ibid, at the same time. Bestseller on how to return to yourself with crystals.
“I apply the cream to my face and then rub it into the skin with a special rose quartz spatula. And, you know, it’s not at all the same as just with your hands! A completely different effect, much cooler! ”
“ And I’m drinking water infused with crystals. It is very useful”.
This orgy with crystals is just a terrible Middle Ages.And even if you read the masterpiece on the Vogue.ru website that “men are attracted by rose quartz”, and “amethyst relieves insomnia” (sic!) And definitely noticed that men began to like more and sleep better, – all the same no.
There is no any scientific confirmation that any – tactile, visual, mental – contact with crystals affects at least some human organ. Except, perhaps, the holy belief in this fragile minds, subject to the pernicious influence of the prophets from esotericism.
However, there are many such minds. According to The Guardian, Instagram has tens of millions of hashtags # crystals (# crystals) and # healing crystals (#crystalhealing, crystalsmagic, etc.). In 2018, American Hello! called crystals the main wellness trend. They are sold in the form of lamps, sex toys, massagers, or “vaginal eggs” like Gwyneth Paltrow. And Miranda Kerr said she passes all skin care products through rose quartz to “fill them with self-love.”
And in the studio itself, everyone indulges in meditation and consciously save themselves, their mind, their sleep and the planet.They meditate on ecologically impeccable poufs with extremely comfortable backrests.In general, so that you understand: there are opals, quartz, malachite and amethyst for all occasions, “from everything and for everything.” According to statistics in the same article, 42% of American adults believe that spiritual energy can be enclosed in a crystal. And any scientific criticism of crystal healing breaks against this belief. For it is strong, like … like a crystal. We do not know the figures for the countries of Russia and the CIS (it is not a fact that they exist at all).But ardent connoisseurs of crystal healing certainly exist here, and there are many of them.
If the matter were limited to the fact that useless stones are being snatched into the population for money (sometimes for very big money), we would not dwell on this in detail. After all, there is such a thing as natural selection. Including the selection of money.
However, the vast majority of crystals circulating in the world are mined by very bloody methods. The main supplier is Madagascar. This is one of the poorest countries, but in the land there are those very beloved Beckham, Kerr and Paltrow rose quartz and amethyst.To get them out of the ground, forests are cut down. Accordingly, not only trees die, but also fauna. And 80% of the stones are mined by hand, without any equipment, by small children. In Madagascar, this business employs approximately 85,000 children.
Why children? Only boys of 8–10 years old can crawl into holes where crystals lie. The hole diameter is about a meter. The depth is such that when you shine a flashlight, you can’t see the bottom. Very often, such labyrinths-mines collapse. The end is known. And boys receive 1-1.5 dollars a month for this work.They do not go to lessons: instead of school, dad and mom send them for pebbles, which is much more profitable. After a child begins to do this, he usually does not live for more than a year. Researchers estimate that about half of the parents of Madagascar villages have lost a child working in the mines. Causes are trauma, hunger, lung infections, and other illnesses.
In Russia, crystals are mined mainly in the Urals. (Does everyone remember Bazhov’s tales?) They don’t use child labor there, they use industrial methods.But do not think that if you bought your miracle stones not on 5th Avenue in New York and the London Camden market, but in Moscow, Petersburg or Saratov, then your conscience is clear.
Many Russian distributors (for example, the company Quartz, which The Blue Print wrote about, and with whose owner, Polina Okhranova, we worked at the same time at Vogue) proudly say that they travel to American Tucson, Arizona, where the world’s largest mineral exhibitions are held. Where do they go … that’s right, from Madagascar.Where eight-year-old boys get them.
Yes, before a crystal from the Madagascar mines ends up in Beckham’s purse or on the table of a Moscow lady in need of a “feminine energy” boost, it goes a long way. Both the lady and Beckham may be unaware of how it was mined. Or pretend not to suspect. And distributors have the right to pretend ignorance and even sincerely believe that they are buying “honest” stones, without traces of blood. Moreover, the energy of the stone … it is so powerful, you know … it is bad to joke with it.If something bad happened, amethyst and quartz would tell us everything. And here everything is clean. Everything. They feel it.
But – doubtful. Moreover, not only The Guardian wrote about this problem, the German Speigel, where the Indian mines were in the spotlight, and the New Republic sounded the alarm.
Therefore, it seems more likely that Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop project, which sells sets of stones “for everything and for everything,” will burn in hell.
The price of this jar of crystals is something around $ 50.Sheer pennies compared to the history below… One incredibly expensive and fashionable detox-weight-loss clinic sells crystal decanters with sealed flasks inside. And in the flask there are crystals of wonderful beauty. And these flasks can be bought – for about a few thousand euros. It is assumed that at home you will fill the carafe with water, put it on the east window, where the first ones fall – this is very important! – the rays of the sun, the ray will charge the water with energy, quartz will transform everything … And this water must be drunk during the day … Flasks with diamonds are also sold in this clinic.And diamonds, of course, have a generally indisputable competitive advantage in improving the health of our bodies.
And people with three higher educations believe in it.
Oh.
We are ready to justify the massage with silver spoons: silver reacts with the skin, it has been proven. Ionized silver is even included in anti-burn therapy. And let them be creams with gold of the highest standard: after all, gold is an excellent conductor of beneficial ingredients into the skin.
Absolutely nothing comes from crystals.It makes no sense to use them in cosmetology. Even in spa treatments, “to make it pleasant”. When someone puts rose quartz on your face, please remember that this quartz may have been responsible for the death of a child in a hole in Madagascar.
Illustrations for the book: Anna Goncharenko
PS. I know that even in our blog we sometimes come across references to devices made of crystals in a positive way. Honestly? I am ashamed for that. We, too, “really did not know, but this is so cool.”Well, well, now we know.
Read also:
Quartz crystal – Chemist’s Handbook 21
The phenomenon of Raman scattering of light was discovered in 1928 simultaneously by Soviet physicists GS Landsberg and LI Mandelstam in solids (quartz crystals) and Indian [p.73]
the surface of quartz crystals forms electric charges. [c.27]
Three-dimensional framework silicates, in which all four oxygen atoms in the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron are shared with other ions, are typical for quartz (810 h) (Fig. 14-34). In a quartz crystal [c.637]
According to the first law, discovered in 1783 by Rome de la Ilem (France), in all crystals of the same substance the angles between the respective faces are equal. For example, in sodium chloride crystals, the angles between the faces are 90 °. The law of constancy of angles ue means that crystals of the same substance always have the same shape.For example, quartz crystals (Fig. 1.71) are different in shape, although the angles between the corresponding faces (for example, a and b or bis) are the same for them. [c.137]
Optically active substances are divided into two types 1) solid substances — crystals (quartz, potassium chlorate) 2) solutions (glucose, morphine, tartaric acid). Substances of the first type are used in microscopic technology. Substances of the second type are the subject of polarimetric analysis (polarimetry). [c.258]
Quartz crystals belong to trigonal synonyms, quartz parameters a = 0.491 nm, c = 0.540 nm, density 2.65 g / cm, refractive index 1.5, coordination number of a silicon atom 4. [c.155]
The mechanism of polarization as a result of compression or tension deformations can be illustrated by the example of the behavior of a quartz crystal (Fig. 24). [c.132]
The total energy of any quartz crystal (or its fragment) is the sum of the internal energy required to form an atomic lattice and the surface energy spent on keeping the particles of the surface layer in equilibrium. When the grains of the medium are wetted with water, an excess of free energy is released, which is necessary to create a surface layer at the quartz-water interface.So if 111 is the total energy of a quartz crystal with a surface area of 5, and is the total energy of the second phase (water), then the total energy of the entire system is u = u] + u2 + o5. [c.208]
The piezoelectric properties of quartz cause electrification of crystals, which occurs during compression (but not in the direction of the optical axis) or changes in the pressure under which the crystals are located. Conversely, if a quartz crystal is placed in an alternating electric field, then it will become a source of oscillations. [c.27]
Quartz is transparent to UV rays. A feature of the optical properties of quartz is the ability to rotate the plane of polarization of a polarized beam passing through the crystal parallel to its optical axis. Due to this, quartz crystals are used in optical devices such as saccharimeters, polarizing devices, etc. Depending on the direction of spiral twisting in the crystal structure, left and right quartz are distinguished (rotate the plane of polarization to the left and right, respectively). [c.27]
Quartz crystals (piezoelectric quartz) are used to obtain ultrasonic vibrations. Quartz plates of the same thickness, cut in a certain way from crystals, came – [c.165]
A plate cut from a quartz crystal Wax [c.31]
Experiment A. A plate cut from a solid quartz crystal, cover on one side with a layer of wax and allow it to cool. Include th- J 2 1 [c.31]
Explanation.If the thermal conductivity of the quartz plate were the same in all directions, the puddle would have the shape of a circle. Since the thermal conductivity of a quartz crystal depends on the direction (it is maximum along the long semiaxis of the ellipse), the pool of melted wax will have an elongated shape. [c.31]
Rns. 22.9. Quartz Crystals (American Museum of Natural History). [c.344]
Silica in the form of sand is widely used in construction, in the production of cement, glass, ceramics (see.ch. 34), abrasives. A special area of application of quartz is associated with the fact that it is capable of deforming under the influence of an electric field. This property of quartz crystals is used in sound recording and reproducing equipment and for generating ultrasonic vibrations. [c.418]In fig. 4.1 shows some possible forms of quartz crystals formed by combining a prism with two hexagonal pyramids. The symbols /, II, and III denote the faces, the angles between which are the same.All quartz crystals can be made exactly the same by grinding on an op- [c.158]
Growing quartz. Currently, the need for large crystals of quartz in various fields of science and technology has increased tremendously, so its synthesis is carried out on a very large scale. [c.78]
His. 1.66. Forms of quartz crystals [c.147]
According to the first law, discovered in 1783 by Rome de la Ilem (France), in all crystals of the same substance the angles between the respective faces are equal.So, for example, in sodium chloride crystals the angles between the faces are equal to 90 °. The law of constancy of angles does not mean that crystals of the same substance always have the same shape. This position can be illustrated by the example of quartz crystals (Fig. 118). Despite the fact that the ones shown in Fig. 102 crystals are different in shape, the angles between the corresponding faces (for example, a and b or b and c) are the same. [c.244]
Rocks consist mostly of several minerals, for example, granite consists of quartz crystals, feldspars and micas, bonded together.Granites and gneisses are used as natural building materials. [c.111]
Quartz also belongs to covalent crystals, the formula of which can only be written in general terms as 3Or. In fact, in a quartz crystal, each silicon atom is bonded to four neighboring oxygen atoms located at the vertices of the tetrahedron, and each oxygen atom is bonded to two neighboring silicon atoms (Fig. 53). [c.131]
Such thermal motion leads to diffusion in solids, although the diffusion coefficients and diffusion rates, determined by mobility or fluidity, are much lower in solids than in gases and liquids.Accordingly, the periods of relaxation in solids, that is, the values of viscosity in them, are immeasurably higher than in liquids of the same density and the same composition, until the structure is destroyed – the crystal lattice. Indeed, it is known that huge crystals, for example natural quartz crystals, several meters in size, do not experience noticeable residual deformations under their own weight over geological periods that are much shorter than their relaxation period. [c.175]
Depending on the number of phases in the system, single-phase, or homogeneous, and multiphase, or heterogeneous systems are distinguished. The system may contain several solid (crystals of different substances) and several liquid (immiscible liquids) phases. Gases usually form one phase … Crystals of the same substance can belong to different phases if there is a difference in their structure and properties. An example is different polymorphic forms of ONE and the same substance. Thus, a mixture of quartz and cristobalite crystals is a two-phase system, although the chemical composition of both phases is the same – SiOj. [c.45]
The strength of the π-bond in Oj is significantly higher than in SiOj (this difference is much stronger than for the σ-bonds). Oj molecules do not strongly interact with each other in a quartz crystal, each Si atom is bonded to four O atoms, and each O atom is bonded to two Si atoms (st-bonds). [c.527]
Piezoelectric hygrometers work according to the principle developed by WG King. In industrial samples, the measurement principle is based on comparing the change in the oscillation frequency of two oscillators from quartz crystals coated with a hygroscopic material, which are embedded at a frequency of 9 MHz.Each crystal is alternately kept in a wet, then in a standard dry (dried nitrogen) gas sample for 30 s, i.e. one crystal absorbs water, and the other dries. The flow meter pointer fluctuates between zero and maximum value every 30 s. The peak of the amplitude indicates the moisture level. Gas consumption can be recorded by a recorder. The moisture content of the evaporated sample of the LPG liquid phase was taken as an integral characteristic. [c.94]
These processes lead to the formation of racemic mixtures.However, it is believed that during spontaneous crystallization there was a separation of the mixture. It is most likely that the division took place at random. Apparently, minerals such as natural asymmetric quartz crystals and metal ions played a decisive role in the separation of optically active compounds by selective complex formation of one specific stereoisomer. At the end of K01SH0V, stereoselective polymerization of olefins on metal surfaces (Ziegler-Natta catalysts) is a well-studied industrial process for the preparation of isotactic polymers.It is also known that the binding of metal ions is very important for many biochemical transformations. Such binding is essential for maintaining the native structure of nucleic acids and many proteins and enzymes. The selection of optical isomers could be due to other physical phenomena, such as interaction with radioactive elements, radiation, or cosmic rays. Recent experiments with strontium-90 show that D-thyroein degrades faster than the natural L-isomer.It is very tempting to use these factors to explain the origin of dissymmetry in life processes. [c.186]
To excite and register longitudinal waves, crystals of Segpet salt, piezoelectric ceramics from barium titapate, TsTS-19, etc. are used as transducers. natural vibration frequency within 200 kHz 1 MHz. [c.39]
Crystalline silicon dioxide is found in nature mainly in the form of the mineral quartz.Transparent, colorless quartz crystals, shaped like hexagonal prisms with hexagonal pyramids at the ends, are called rock crystal (Figure 16.5). Rock crystal, colored with impurities in lilac color, is called amethyst, and brownish – smoky topaz. [c.418]
Agloporite is a porous material obtained by agglomeration of fuel slag, ash, clayey rocks. It consists mainly of a vitreous phase containing inclusions of crystals of quartz, feldspars, magnetite, fayalite, mullite, anorthite.Used as a lightweight concrete aggregate and heat-insulating backfill. [c.224]
D and silicon oxide in the form of a quartz mineral is very widespread in nature. Its numerous varieties are known. Minerals consisting of silicon dioxide (510 °) are called silica. Rock crystal – transparent quartz crystals in the form of hexagonal prisms with hexagonal pyramids at the ends (Fig. 14.1). [c.296]
Transparent white quartz crystals are known as hot crystal.to tora.y can be dark in color, (smoky, topaa.) and pink-fnaletovosh (amethyst). [c.249]
Some disadvantage of monochromator cameras that use reflection from a quartz crystal for monochromatization is the presence of parasitic radiation with a wavelength half the wavelength of the characteristic radiation. This does not cause inconvenience in routine phase analysis, but it can be a source of uncertainty when searching for a weakly expressed superstructure. To eliminate this ambiguity, under the leadership of Yu.P. Simanov, a camera-monochromator was designed [6], in which the reflection from the (111) plane of a germanium single crystal plastically bent at a high temperature was used for monochromatization. The intensity of the (222) lines in germanium is practically zero, i.e. there is no radiation with A / 1 in the monochromatic beam. Unfortunately, the plastic properties of germanium are very sensitive to the degree of crystal perfection (they deteriorate sharply with decreasing dislocation concentration II), and chambers of this type have not found wide application.Quartz monocrystals are much cheaper and more affordable. [c.21]
When studying the rate of dissolution of crystals of quartz, limestone and other minerals in acids, it was found that the rate of dissolution of different faces is different. For example, a lime spar prism face has a dissolution rate seven times faster than a base face. The experiments of a number of authors have shown that the dissolution rate of the pinacoid (0001) quartz plane in hydrofluoric acid is more than 100 times higher than the dissolution rate of the (1010) prism face. [c.47]
Hydrothermal method of growing crystals | Blog RusGems®
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We will tell you how we grow synthetic gemstones by the hydrothermal method: how the process of crystal growth (synthesis) takes place.
What minerals are obtained by the hydrothermal method
Hydrothermal method suitable for growth:
- beryl: emerald, as well as red, orange, purple shades, bixbit, morganite, aquamarine, paraiba;
- corundums: yellow, blue, green sapphires and rubies;
- quartz: amethysts, citrines, smoky (rauchtopaz), rock crystal, two-tone ametrine, as well as fancy blues and blues.
We are proud to note that RusGems is the only company in the world that grows Colombian emeralds – the most expensive variety!
As a result of growth, we get crystals-plates of emerald or corundum of a relatively small size (up to 9 mm in height) with natural inclusions. Depending on the growth conditions, they can also have absolute purity and varying levels of transparency. At the same time, we get a 100% analogue of natural stones: the same optical, physical and chemical properties.
To create such synthetic precious inserts, it is necessary to use special crucibles (containers) made of refractory metals (including gold, platinum and iridium), since in nature the growth process requires many conditions, including: high temperatures, pressure and time. All this significantly affects the price of the material received.
As for quartz, in the jewelry world it is a relatively cheap stone, the most famous representatives of which are: amethyst, citrine (yellow), prasiolite (green), pink and lavender quartz, and especially popular in Russia – rock crystal and rauchtopaz (smoky quartz) …Since in nature they are formed in less difficult conditions, then in the laboratory version, quartz is obtained less costly and can grow to, in fact, gigantic sizes – several kilograms. At the same time, the vast majority of hydrothermal quartz are pure and do not have impurities or inclusions, which corresponds to the best representatives of their natural counterparts.
The growth of hydrothermal crystals is carried out in sealed high-pressure vessels (autoclaves) that allow the synthesis process to be carried out at temperatures above 600˚C and pressures above 1000 atmospheres.They contain natural crystals of low quality, dissolved in aqueous solutions of acids or alkalis, and seed from a natural mineral (beryl, sapphire or quartz). The main role is played by water, the dissolving power of which increases sharply at high temperatures and pressures provided in the autoclave. In fact, the crystallization process occurs as a result of a temperature difference: the superheated solution at the bottom of the autoclave moves to the upper colder part, where it settles (crystallizes) on the seed plates.This process is continuous.
Scheme of an autoclave for hydrothermal synthesis |
In nature, all crystals of one mineral have the same physical properties (for example, beryl), but they are colored by different chemical elements: emerald – chromium or vanadium, aquamarine – iron, morganite – manganese.Therefore, we need to tint pale crystals with natural elements, give them a growth formula using a seed, and completely reproduce the natural growth of the crystal. However, even with laboratory acceleration of the process, the cultivation of synthetic emeralds sometimes takes several months.
Hydrothermal emeralds should be mentioned separately, as an example of one of the most difficult stones to determine their origin. Today there are 3 types of crystals, the growth technologies of which have their own differences.
- Emerald is a dark green “Zambian” color, sometimes it can have a slightly yellowish tint. The raw materials of such stones are usually made small in height: 4 – 6 mm, since it is almost pointless to make large stones due to the dark color. Also, the raw material may contain insignificant color zones, parallel to the seed, which are not visible during cutting. A distinctive feature of such grown emeralds is the lowest price of all the top-end hydrothermal stones of the first group.
- Byron’s emerald is considered to be next in terms of price and quality; this trade name from Australia also has its own growth characteristics.These synthetic inserts have a specific bluish-gray tint. They are much lighter and bluer than the classic Colombian color. The variety of saturation is very variable, but all stones will be pronounced blue, and dark large samples will be slightly grayish. Crystals are up to 9 mm. Their price is several times higher than dark Zambian grown samples. Interestingly, some natural Russian emeralds are very similar to Byron’s hydrothermal stones.
- The most popular and expensive cultivated emerald is undoubtedly the Colombian color.The crystals of grown Colombian emeralds can reach 9 mm in height, be of varying degrees of purity and have several shades. In any case, these are always moderately light bright stones with a blue tint, but always green. As in the world of natural emeralds, grown stones can be slightly lighter or yellower, but any stone from a hydrothermal Colombian emerald will always match the very best representatives of the natural market, while their price is slightly higher than Byron’s emerald.
A simple and common way to determine the naturalness of an emerald is the Chelsea color filter, which detects the absorption of red and yellow-green spectra by a stone. If you look through the filter at a natural emerald, it will almost always be red, and all artificial analogs known in the world will remain green. Except the grown ones.
Advantages of the hydrothermal method
- single crystals grown are of high quality;
- their structure, nature of inclusions and color correspond 100% to natural stones;
- due to the uniqueness of each crystal of raw materials, the customer can choose the number and type of inclusions;
- variety of colors.
Disadvantages of the hydrothermal method
- low growth rate;
- practical lack of the ability to purposefully interfere with the crystallization process;
- periodic presence of weakly expressed zoning in raw materials;
- high cost due to the specifics of the equipment.
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Quartz is one of the differential # 39; s difficult surfaces, making it an ideal and durable option for kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities. Quartz is a non-porous, eco-friendly surface that has a unique combination of beauty and functionality, therefore it is an attractive and practical choice for any lifestyle.
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How We Work? -YEYANG
Welcome to visit Xiamen Yeyang Stone Group.We are a stone factory which is located in Xiamen andamp stone hometown; China.For address for over 23 years we have been specializing in the manufacture of stone.
Xiamen Yeyang Stone Group is a leading stone manufacturer, founded in 1993, in Xiamen’s stone hometown andamp; Address andamp; Nantong is a city near Shanghai.
As a YEYANG Group, not only have its own 3 factories, but also a group with more than 20 family businesses. We have invested over 10 quarries since 1993, including White Marble Quarry, Gray Marble Quarry, Black Marble Quarry, Granite and Travertine.
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We have access to many new Chinese marble quarries and we offer a wide selection of the most premium marbles selected from hundreds of quarries. Many new marbles from China and other countries are listed in our new marble base, with an area of over 60,000 square meters. We will continue to bring all kinds of new marbles to meet the different requirements of our clients. Welcome to contact us if you are goning to buy any new material from China.
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A favorite Faberge gem was found in the South Urals
The master of Easter eggs created his masterpieces from smoky rock crystal.
The most beautiful mineral is often called rauchtopaz, but it has nothing to do with topaz. Another name is smoky rock crystal, but it is not considered correct either.Rock crystal is a transparent type of quartz. Rauchtopaz is considered a semi-precious ornamental stone. It is often used by jewelers. The mineral is mined in Brazil, USA, Switzerland, Germany, Japan. And in Russia the Southern Urals are especially rich in gem. Toward the end of the 19th century, smoky quartz was actively used as an ornamental stone, along with precious ones. It was used to make inkpots, umbrella handles, figurines, this happened at the time of Peter Carl Faberge. A large egg is made from a faceted 4500-carat rauchtopaz, which is kept in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution in the USA.
“The largest Astafyevskoe quartz deposit in Russia is located in the Nagaybaksky district,” said Mikhail Rosomakhin, a researcher at the Federal Center for Mineralogy and Geoecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Miass) , to UP . – In Soviet times, quartz was mined there, which was used in the famous precision piezo-quartz watches, but in the 1990s it was abandoned and is not being developed now. But even today in the quarries there they find not only smoky crystal, but also other varieties: black merlon, amber-yellow cetrin, and occasionally purple amethyst is also found.Smoky quartz has a brown color; both subtle shades and dark tonality can prevail. Coloring is associated with the content of iron and aluminum. Some talk about the powerful energy of the mineral and its magical properties, including the ability to get rid of nightmares and bad habits, protect from the evil eye, restore strength and fight despair. Smoky crystal is used to make balls in which psychics supposedly see the past and the future. And his relative amethyst, as the ancient Greeks believed, supposedly protects against poison.But this is an unscientific approach, and it’s hard to believe in the mystical properties of gems. ”
According to Mikhail Rosomakhin, the South Urals are rich in gems, and this is not the only deposit of the miracle stone. So, in the Plastovsky region, near the villages of Verkhnyaya and Kamennaya Sanarki, at one time they found the richest deposits of quartz, which they called the Ural Brazil. Quartz, beryl, topaz can be found there today. In those parts, near the famous gold deposit near the village of Svetloye, a whole natural storehouse of piezoelectric quartz crystal was found.It was mined industrially, and the “accompanying gems” were simply thrown into dumps. And in the Kyshtym village of Slyudorudnik, especially pure quartz is mined, which is used in the manufacture of X-ray tubes and in other medical devices.
“Today, industrial mining of rock crystal is not in demand: we have learned to grow in artificial conditions,” sums up Mikhail Rosomakhin. – An example of this is the Kristall plant in Yuzhnouralsk, which supplies its products abroad, including to Japan, where artificial crystals are used in electronics and high-precision optics.In Russia, periscopes of submarines and tank optics are made from piezoelectric “crystal”.
Introduction to Embedded Electronics Part 3 | avr
Continued translations of the Starter Guide from SparkFun [1]. This part is devoted to the clocking of the microcontroller, its operation from a quartz (or ceramic) resonator. You will also get acquainted with the microcontroller fuses.
Previous: Introduction to Embedded Electronics, Part 2 (How to Program a Microcontroller).
In the last lesson, you started your first project – blinking an LED. This was perhaps the most difficult and responsible step. Now we will make the LED flash a lot faster!
You have uploaded the code to the ATmega168 (or ATmega328P) microcontroller and run it, but why does it work? And what does its speed of work depend on? Any microcontroller always works, receiving clocks from a special clock generator (oscillator). For clarity, this generator can be thought of as a ‘musical rhythm’ that the microcontroller uses to execute its code – one command is executed with each beat of the rhythm.Without a clock frequency, the microcontroller does not know when to execute the next command, and when the clock frequency is of poor quality or unstable, execution proceeds at an unpredictable speed. You must have a certain kind of bars, and often (this is necessary for many tasks) these bars must be very accurate and stable. Ever tried dancing to a CD that sticks and skips chunks of melody? It is very difficult and unpleasant!
There are several ways to supply the clock (s) to the microcontroller.The ATmega168 microcontroller has many settings for this (all AVR microcontrollers have very similar settings, which may differ very slightly for different types of AVR). Here’s a quick overview of the different types of oscillators to get the clock speed:
1 . External RC (an external oscillator whose frequency is determined by the parameters of the RC chain). This generator variant is used for extremely low cost applications. By selecting the value of the resistor and capacitor, the speed of the capacitor recharge cycles (the time constant of the RC chain) is selected, which determines the resulting frequency of the generator.I have never used this kind of clock generation.
2 . Internal RC (internal RC oscillator built into the microcontroller). This is a very convenient type of clock generator. It is found on most modern AVR microcontrollers. You can simply tune (fuses) the ATmega168 to generate its own clock frequency! The oscillator and corresponding RC network are located on the AVR chip. Unfortunately, this generator is not very accurate.
3 .External Oscillator (external crystal resonator, from which the generator built into the microcontroller works). This is the standard and most commonly used clock acquisition type. Connect a crystal (called ‘quartz’ for short) to the 2 terminals of the oscillator and the code will run at the frequency of the crystal.
4 . External Resonator (external ceramic resonator). The same as the variant with a quartz resonator, only here a cheaper type of resonator is used, which has a worse frequency tolerance.
5 . External Clock In this version, the clock frequency is supplied from an external generator (for example, assembled on logic elements, or a frequency generated by another microcontroller). This option is useful when you need to run multiple microcontrollers at the same clock speed. I have never used this option.
In reality, only 3 of these 5 options are typically used, so it is worth looking into them in more detail.
Translator’s note: in fact, there is also a 6 way, the synthesis of the clock frequency using the PLL (PLL). However, it has mostly professional applications, and not all AVR microcontrollers have this capability.
Internal RC (internal calibratable RC oscillator). This generator, which Atmel made, is really good. By default, the ATmega168 is shipped from the factory set to an internal oscillator frequency of 1 MHz. The ATmega168 microcontroller (like all AVRs) can operate by executing 1 instruction per 1 machine cycle, i.e.That is, for 1 cycle of the clock frequency (translator’s note: there are assembly instructions that are executed in 2 cycles, but there are not so many of them). This means that each time the generator has performed another cycle (period) of such frequency, one command of the microcontroller program is executed (to some extent, since some instructions take more than 1 cycle). If we used an ATmega168 from the store and did not change the fuses, then our LED blinking code will work at a clock frequency of 1 MHz, or 1 MIPS (million instructions per second, million instructions per second).Just imagine – 1 million operations per second! It’s just amazing. So what’s the disadvantage of an internal generator? Its frequency tolerance is +/- 5%, and the maximum speed is 8MHz. A tolerance of +/- 5% means your ATmega168 can operate at speeds from 1,000,000 * 1.05 = 1,050,000 IPS to 1,000,000 * 0.95 = 950,000 IPS, and you cannot know the exact frequency in advance. Perhaps this inaccuracy will not seem significant to you, but in the digital world it is huge! In addition, the ATmega168 can run at a maximum speed of 20 MHz from an external crystal, while the maximum speed of the internal oscillator is 8 MHz.So if you really need to overclock the microcontroller with maximum speed (and / or with maximum accuracy), you will have to connect an external crystal resonator.
External Oscillator (external crystal resonator, or simply quartz). This is the most commonly used type of generator. Photo shows a standard HC49 / US truncated quartz crystal.
Quartz crystals are available in different packages and come in different frequencies.The most common frequencies are 20, 16, 15, 12, 10, 4 MHz. There are also frequencies like 14.7456 MHz, 9.216 MHz and 32.768 kHz – these frequencies are used because they are tied to standard data rates or are designed to accurately count specific time intervals. For example, if you want to achieve a very precisely set serial baud rate of 9600 bps, divide 9.216 MHz by 960, resulting in 9600. If you use 16 MHz, there is no integer divider to get 9600.So serial communication will be very accurate when using a 9.216 MHz crystal, and with a 16 MHz crystal there will always be some (albeit minor) error.
Inside the metal case is a small piece of quartz crystal, the size and cut of which are selected so that it vibrates at a certain frequency. The internal RC oscillator of the ATmega has an accuracy of +/- 5%. At the same time, quartz usually has an accuracy of ‘+/- 20ppm’. The abbreviation ppm stands for ‘parts per million’.That is, the accuracy is +/- 20 periods per million! Thus, the resonator frequency can be in the range from 15999680 to 16000320 Hz. This is equivalent to an accuracy of +/- 0.002%, so the crystal is 2500 times more accurate than the internal RC oscillator.
Note: Sorry for bothering you with boring technical details, but this is pretty important. The concepts of oscillator and crystal are often substituted for one another, which is confusing. The resonator shown in the photo is not an actual generator, it is just a quartz resonator (quartz).Quartz is cheap. However, generators are much more expensive (cost about $ 2..4). What is the difference? The generator requires external power supply and generates output frequency pulses by itself. These pulses can be used to clock all kinds of peripherals and microcontrollers. Quartz is a completely passive element, for the operation of which an external driver (amplifier) is required, only when they are used together, a generator is obtained. Fortunately, 99% of microcontrollers have built-in driver nodes for generating an oscillator, so it is enough to simply connect a cheap crystal from the outside to the external 2 pins of the microcontroller.The internal driver will swing the crystal and the microcontroller will receive an accurate clock source.
Some disadvantages of quartz:
1. Quartz crystals are slightly more expensive than ceramic resonators: $ 0.25 compared to $ 0.10 for a ceramic resonator.
2. It is difficult to make a truly small-sized quartz (more difficult than a ceramic resonator), so more space is required on the PCB to accommodate the quartz. Miniature quartz is quite expensive and not very common.
3. Quartz crystals require external load capacitors to help start generation. Without these capacitors, quartz may not work (although it usually works fine). Load capacitors are inexpensive, but they also require additional PCB footprint.
External Resonator (external ceramic resonator). In terms of accuracy and price, ceramic resonators occupy an intermediate position between the internal RC oscillator and quartz.
The resonator is made from a piece of piezo ceramic so that it can vibrate at a specific resonant frequency.Unfortunately, this technology does not provide high accuracy, so the standard frequency tolerance for ceramic resonators is +/- 0.5%. So the resonators are 10 times more accurate than the internal RC oscillator, but they are far less accurate than the quartz ones.
Resonators tend to be cheaper than quartz crystals, their frequency is usually lower and the dimensions are smaller. Resonators are more convenient to use, because load capacitors are not needed – they are already built into the resonator (for this reason, the resonator has 3 terminals).Resonators can be made very small in size, and they will take up very little space on the PCB.
Make a choice for yourself. For most applications, an internal generator will work great! But if you try to exchange data via a serial communication channel, then the accuracy of 5% is usually insufficient (you need an accuracy of 1-2%). I usually use quartz for my projects, but for really small devices I use ceramic resonators. Digital radio applications usually require quartz crystals due to the stringent requirements for frequency accuracy.The frequency of any generator will change over time (due to the aging effect) and will be affected by temperature changes.
As mentioned earlier, the ATmega168 is shipped configured to run from an internal 1 MHz RC oscillator. But we can speed up the execution of the program. Let’s try to tune the ATmega168 to run at 16 MHz from an external crystal.
What additional performance changes will occur when the ATmega168 is run at an increased clock speed? It will not be possible to work at low supply voltages (such as 3.3V or 2.8V). Since we have a supply voltage of 5V, it doesn’t matter. A microcontroller operating at higher frequencies 16..20 MHz will consume more current than when operating at 1 MHz. This should be taken into account when designing your system.
Connect a 16 MHz crystal to pins 9 and 10 of the microcontroller, as shown in the diagram. Also connect 2 22pF capacitors to them, connect the second leads of the capacitors to the GND bus.
The ATmega168 now needs to be configured to use pins 9 and 10 as the pins of an external crystal oscillator.This is done by reprogramming the fuses.
Note. translator: if you load the code using a bootloader (USB bootloader such as USBasp or UART bootloader Arduino), then in your system the fuses are already configured to use an external quartz. In addition, the bootloader does not allow changing the fuse values; this must be done using an external ISP programmer.
[ Fuse Bits ]
This is one of the most difficult things that AVR uses.Fuses allow for the lowest-level configuration of the microcontroller system. By setting or clearing these bits, you can completely change how the AVR works and functions. I’ve been a PIC fanatic for many years and the PIC configuration bits were very simple. You just clicked into a convenient window in a Windows program, or you could change the configuration bits right in the C language code. No fuss, no problem. AVR microcontrollers are very different in this regard, and you can even literally damage your AVR if you program the protection bits somehow.
The two bytes for the settings in the ATmega168 make up these ‘fuse bits’. If you haven’t done so already, download the complete datasheet to the ATmega168 (it is 448 pages now!), And save it to your desktop. If you’ve never read a datasheet before, don’t worry! You don’t need to study all these 448 pages, you just need to consider the part you need in it.
Go to the section of the datasheet “8. System Clock and Clock Options” (it is convenient to use the table of contents and bookmarks, which by default appear on the left side of an open PDF document).In the subsection “8.2 Clock Sources” you will see that there are many options for adjusting the clock speed for the ATmega168. Let’s first switch the internal RC oscillator from 1 MHz to 8 MHz.
Table 8-1. Options for configuring the clocking of the microcontroller.
Clock mode | Fuses CKSEL3 .. CKSEL0 |
Low power external crystal oscillator. | 1111…. 1000 |
Normal oscillator mode with external crystal. | 0111 … 0110 |
Low frequency oscillator with external crystal. | 0101 … 0100 |
Internal RC oscillator at 128 kHz. | 0011 |
Internal calibrated RC oscillator. | 0010 |
External clock source. | 0000 |
Reserved. | 0001 |
At the very beginning of section 8.6 it says: “By default, the Internal RC Oscillator provides a frequency of approximately 8.0 MHz. Since this frequency depends on supply voltage and temperature, it can be very precisely calibrated by the user if necessary. Microcontroller comes with a pre-programmed CKDIV8 fuse. See the System Clock Prescaler section for more information.
The programmed CKDIV8 bit causes the internal 8 MHz oscillator to pass through the frequency divider by 8, resulting in a 1 MHz frequency at which the microcontroller operates.In order for the microcontroller to work at 8 MHz, you need to turn off the divider by 8, for which we need to change the value of the CKDIV8 fuse. Fuse CKDIV8 is in the low byte of fuses, see the table below.
Table 27-9. Fuse Low Byte.
Low Fuse Byte | Bit no. | Description | Default |
CKDIV8 | 7 | 0 enables division of measures by 8. | 0 (programmed) |
CKOUT | 6 | 0 turns on the clock output to the PORTB0 pin. | 1 (not programmed) |
SUT1 | 5 | Generator start time selection. | 1 (not programmed) |
SUT0 | 4 | Generator start time selection. | 0 (programmed) |
CKSEL3 | 3 | Selection of the operating mode of the clock generator. | 0 (programmed) |
CKSEL2 | 2 | Selection of the operating mode of the clock generator. | 0 (programmed) |
CKSEL1 | 1 | Selection of the operating mode of the clock generator. | 1 (not programmed) |
CKSEL0 | 0 | Selection of the operating mode of the clock generator. | 0 (programmed) |
Default fuse byte value 0b.01100010. The new value of the fuses byte, in which the CKDIV8 bit is changed, is 0b.11100010.
Note. translator: bit CKDIV8 is in the most significant bit 7 of the least significant byte of fuses. Please note that the “programmed” bit value does not correspond to log. 1, and log. 0. “Unprogrammed” value corresponds to log. 1. Why is this so? This introduces additional confusion in the interpretation of the meaning of the fuses bits. Everything went from the EEPROM and FLASH technology – the cleared memory always had cells filled with ones, and the “programming” of the cell bits corresponded to writing zeros there.To reduce confusion when calculating fuses bits, try to use hexadecimal values for fuses bytes, and use a special online resource for this – the fuses bit calculator [2].
With the new value of the CKDIV8 bit, the ATmega168 microcontroller should run from the internal RC oscillator at 8 MHz, and we will see that the LED starts blinking 8 times faster! There are a couple of ways to change fuses, but the most “direct” method is through the command line of the avrdude utility.Changing fuses will be shown on the example of using programmers from Olimex type AVR-PG1 (connected via RS-232 serial port) or AVR-PG2 (connected via parallel LPT port).
# To read ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG1 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P COM1 -c ponyser -U lfuse: r: -: h -U hfuse: r: -: h
# To read ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG2 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P lpt1 -c stk200 -U lfuse: r: -: h -U hfuse: r: -: h
After executing the fuse read command, the avrdude utility will report their value in hexadecimal form: High fuse = 0xDF (high fuse value), Low fuse = 0x62 (fuse low byte value).
The new value for the fuses low byte must be E2 (hexadecimal value). How did I generate a new value for the fuse byte? Table 27-9. The Fuse Low Byte from the datasheet shows the default value of the fuses byte equal to 0x62, which in binary form is 0b01100010. To change the value of the fuse CKDIV8 to the opposite state (“unprogrammed” state of logic 1), the low byte of the fuses must change its most significant bit, and become 0xE2, which in binary form is equal to 0b11100010.So, in order to switch the ATmega168 to work from an internal RC oscillator at a frequency of 8 MHz, you need to execute the following avrdude command (of course, the power must be connected to the programmer and the microcontroller circuit must be powered):
# Writing the low byte of the ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG1 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P COM1 -c ponyser -U lfuse: w: 0xE2: m
# Writing the low byte of the ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG2 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P lpt1 -c stk200 -U lfuse: w: 0xE2: m
After reprogramming the CKDIV8 fuse bit, the LED will flash 8 times faster.Let’s continue studying the settings of the low byte of the fuses, and switch the microcontroller to use an external crystal at 16 MHz, after which the LED will flash 2 times faster.
Note: The photo shows the assembled circuit with quartz, but the 22pF quartz load capacitors are not installed here. Keep in mind that this is a bad solution, as the generator may not start without them.
Let’s continue to study the settings of the options for turning on the external crystal.Go back to the “8.2 Clock Sources” section of the datasheet. Table 8-1 Device Clocking Options Select shows the different oscillator configuration options that set the CKSEL3..CKSEL0 fuses bits.
Now we have the state of the bits CKSEL3..CKSEL0 as follows:
CKSEL3 = 0
CKSEL2 = 0
CKSEL1 = 1
CKSEL0 = 0
This value has enabled the internal RC oscillator. To enable the use of quartz at 16 MHz, you need to change the value of the CKSEL2 bit to 1:
CKSEL3 = 0
CKSEL2 = 1
CKSEL1 = 1
CKSEL0 = 0
As a result, we get the new value of the low byte of fuses 0xE6 (0b11100110).Run the following command to write this fuse byte:
# Writing the low byte of the ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG1 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P COM1 -c ponyser -U lfuse: w: 0xE6: m # Writing the low byte of the ATmega168 fuses using the AVR-PG2 programmer: avrdude -p m168 -P lpt1 -c stk200 -U lfuse: w: 0xE6: m
After executing this command, the external 16 MHz crystal will work, and the LED will flash even faster. If this does not happen, check the connections of the quartz and external 22pF load capacitors.According to the datasheet, ATmega168 can operate at a frequency of up to 20 MHz. You can try to overclock the AVR core at 30 or even 40 MHz, and it might even work. However, I will never develop real systems beyond the parameters recommended in the specification.
It is time for “homework”. You have to learn how to use a multimeter to measure current (see [3]). Since the current is measured by connecting the device in series (the voltage is measured by connecting it in parallel), you need to find such a power circuit on your breadboard that you can break in order to connect a multimeter there in the current measurement mode.Measure the current consumption in the following situations:
1. When ATmega168 is in reset state (S2 key pressed).
2. When the ATmega168 is running at 1 MHz from the internal RC oscillator.
3. When the ATmega168 is running at 8 MHz from the internal RC oscillator.
4. When the ATmega168 is running at 16 MHz from an external crystal.
[ Additional Notes ]
Use the handy calculator [2] to calculate the fuse value in hexadecimal format.Double-check yourself a few times before writing a new fuse value to avoid accidentally damaging the AVR.
Check the degree of heating of the voltage regulator microcircuit during the experiments. Usually the regulator should be almost cold. If it is very hot, turn off the power immediately and check your breadboard for short circuits.
Why can regulators get hot? We use a very simple linear voltage regulator.This type of regulator has a high voltage at the input (in our case, 9V), which at the output is reduced to the operating voltage of the circuit (5V). The difference between these voltages drops on the regulator microcircuit, and leads to its heating due to power dissipation. This power is called power loss and is measured in Watts (W). If the input voltage of the stabilizer is 9V, the output voltage is 5V, and the system draws a current of 50 mA from 5V, then the power loss will be:
(9 – 5) * 0.050 = 0.2 W or 200 mW
200mW will not cause too much heating of the regulator.What if the current rises to an ampere?
(9 – 5) * 1.000 = 4 watts!
This is already a serious heating. Without a heatsink, the regulator microcircuit will become very hot and may fail if operated in this mode for a long time.
As you can see, losses can be reduced by decreasing the input voltage of the regulator. Why can’t you just use a voltage of the order of 5..6V? Cheap 7805 linear regulators require at least a certain voltage drop (this voltage drop is called ‘drop-out voltage’).If the voltage drop across the regulator is less than the allowable one, then the stabilizer will cease to perform its functions, and the voltage at the output of the stabilizer will fall below the allowable operating voltage. A good rule of thumb for the LM7805 is to use a minimum voltage of 1.5V, so the input must be at least 6.5V to get a 5V output. If you supply the input voltage to the regulator less than 6.5V (for example, from 4 AA batteries), then the output voltage of 5V is not guaranteed. Each type of voltage regulator may have a different minimum drop-out voltage value, so check the datasheet.Some voltage regulators are specially designed for low drop-out voltage (so called ‘low drop-out voltage’ regulators) that can go up to 50mV! Our standard 3.3V regulator requires a minimum input voltage of 3.35V to get a clean 3.3V output.
Many regulators have an internal shutdown function to protect against failure in the event of an output short circuit. If you clicked the switch and applied power to the stabilizer, but the indicator LED (indicating the presence of power) did not light up, then the regulator may not be able to provide enough current due to errors in the installation (there is a short circuit, or you have reversed the polarity of the connection somewhere) …Rather, turn off your layout and check everything thoroughly.
Normal operating mode of regulators when they are slightly hot, and you can hold your hand on them.