What is Lemurian Quartz?

Lemurian Quartz: Quartz Crystals with Striations

Lemurian quartz crystals, discovered in Brazil in the early 1990s, are highly sought after for their metaphysical healing properties.

Lemurian crystals are believed to hold ancient spiritual knowledge linked to the mythical lost civilisation of Lemuria.

Striations are often considered a key identifying feature of Lemurian Quartz, but these horizontal ridges or grooves are not always present. However, a crystal can still be called Lemurian without these markings.

The striations on at least one face are believed to form during the crystal's growth, possibly because of an interruption, change in temperature, pressure, or an interaction with surrounding minerals during crystallisation.

Many believe the striations have a special meaning, acting like "energetic codes" or "ancient records." This has contributed to the crystal's mystique and popularity in metaphysical practices. 

Lemurian Quartz is found mainly in Brazil, where quartz with striations is relatively common, but deposits also exist in Peru and Colombia. 

The name Lemurian Quartz is used predominantly in metaphysical circles but is not recognised by geologists. This trade name or marketing term is often applied to quartz crystals with striations or ladder-like markings, which are common in many quartz varieties. Geologists classify these crystals simply as quartz.

Some have described Lemurian Quartz as a Tessin-habit crystal because they can exhibit striations. However, Tessin-habit crystals have a very specific shape. 

These quartz crystals are long, slender, and taper to a needle-like point. Lemurian quartz crystals occur in many shapes and sizes, so unless the crystal is long and slender with a needle-like point, it can't be Tessin habit. 

The Mythical Continent of Lemuria

Lemuria is believed to be a lost continent that once existed in the Pacific Ocean. It's claimed to have been wiped out by a cataclysmic event that caused the island to sink.

The people of Lemuria are said to have used crystals for healing and clairvoyance. It's believed they predicted what was to come, so used crystals to store and preserve their knowledge and traditions.

The word 'trigon' describes tiny triangles that can be present on the crystal faces of Lemurian Quartz. The word was originally used to describe growth patterns on diamonds but is now used for similar growth features on the surface of some other minerals, particularly quartz.

When Lemurian Quartz started being used for its healing properties, the metaphysical community began referring to crystals with these patterns as 'record keepers.' 

Record keepers are believed to store and release information that has been programmed into them.

A crystal grows as atoms stack on top of each other in an organised, repeating pattern called the crystal lattice. Trigons are tiny triangular depressions or elevations on the crystal, often formed when growth or surface conditions change.

Their visibility depends on their size and the specific growth conditions. They’re often too small to see with the naked eye or may be hidden by other surface features.  

The history of the continent of Lemuria was first mentioned in 1864 by British lawyer and zoologist Philip Sclater. He was trying to explain why so many lemur species thrived in Madagascar but were absent or rare elsewhere in the world.

In an article for a science journal, he suggested lemurs spread from a lost landmass to Madagascar, Africa, and Asia via a continent or land bridge.

He named this lost continent ‘Lemuria’ and suggested it sank or broke apart, leaving Madagascar and parts of India as remnants.

In the "Geography of Mammals," published in 1899, Sclater wrote:

"This fact would seem to show that the ancient "Lemuria", as the hypothetical continent which was originally the home of the Lemurs has been termed, must have extended across the Indian Ocean and the Indian Peninsula to the further side of the Bay of Bengal and over the great islands of the Indian Archipelago."
In a book published in German in 1868, biologist Ernst Haeckel discussed how humans evolved from primates. He mentioned Africa and Asia and speculated about a lost landmass between the two continents.

When the book was translated into English in 1876, Haeckel described the continent of Lemuria as possibly being the cradle of humanity.

He went on to say, "The probable primaeval home or "Paradise" is here assumed to be Lemuria, a tropical continent at present lying below the level of the Indian Ocean, the former existence of which in the tertiary period seems very probable from numerous facts in animal and vegetable geography.

But it is also very possible that the hypothetical "cradle of the human race" lay further to the east (in Hindostan or Further India) or further to the west (in eastern Africa)."

Books like these sparked fascination with lost continents and sunken lands.

It's not known how Lemurian Quartz, which has been found in just a few locations in South America, became associated with the continent of Lemuria.

The name 'Lemurian Seed Crystal' is also used, but some claim that 'Seed Crystals' are slightly different from regular Lemurian Quartz. 

Although many claim striations are required for Lemurian Quartz to be genuine, that’s incorrect.

Although Lemurian Quartz is not particularly rare, its popularity has surged due to its reputed metaphysical healing properties. This has led many wholesalers to raise prices significantly.

Identifying Lemurian Quartz can be difficult because defining features (such as striations) are not always present. This has led to instances where regular quartz crystals are mistakenly or intentionally sold as Lemurian.

Article Photos

The Lemurian Quartz crystals are from our collection.

The second photo is a close-up of a quartz crystal with growth triangles (trigons). 

Pop-up photo: The pyrite (with striations) is courtesy of Stan Celestian.

The first photo is clickable and redirects to the original image.