Arkansas Quartz Crystal Types

Arkansas is a well-known destination for crystal collectors and rockhounds of all types. Numerous mineral deposits and geological formations in different parts of the state produce a wide-range of crystals and minerals that draw collectors from across the country. Quartz is the main type of crystal found in Arkansas, but not the only one.

  1. Milky Quartz

    • According to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, the quartz deposits found in the state are some of the finest in the world. The most common type of quartz crystals found in Arkansas are milky quartz which, according to Rockhounding Arkansas, gets its opacity from microscopic bubbles inside the quartz that refract and scatter light as it passes through the rock.

    Smoky Quartz

    • The black sheep of the quartz family, smoky quartz is dark and mysterious. The smoky color of these crystals comes from a process of irradiation that bombarded the crystals during their formation, according to Rockhounding Arkansas. The radiation left the crystals stained a black or gray tone. In Arkansas, smoky quartz is found in Hot Spring and Garland counties.

    Rose Quartz

    • According to Rockhounding Arkansas, rose quartz is generally found in areas near granite intrusions and may have formed at higher temperatures than other types of quartz. Rose quartz has a unique characteristic called asterism meaning that light passing through the crystal is often seen as a star-shaped reflection in the crystal. Other gems that share this characteristic are highly prized; a nice piece of well-polished asterated rose quartz is a sought-after keepsake from an Arkansas crystal-hunting expedition.

    Diamonds

    • While not a variety of quartz, diamonds are some of the most sought-after crystals in Arkansas. The state is home to the only place in the world where visitors can dig for diamonds and legally keep whatever they find. Crater of Diamonds State Park in southwest Arkansas is one of the state's most visited attractions. Visitors can paw through the dirt at Crater of Diamonds and they may find riches -- Rockhounding Arkansas says more than 21,000 diamonds have been found here since 1972.