Aqua Aura

I was delighted when I found this pretty crystal many years ago, so many years ago that I forget from which shop I got it. Aqua Aura is a clear quartz crystal that has been "plated" with a very thin layer of vaporized gold.

What is so striking about the resulting crystal is that it acquires a remarkable iridescence, causing it to exhibit different colors in different lighting conditions. The clear band at the bottom of the crystal is where it was held in a clamp during the plating process.

The crystal changes color when it is turned, even in the same light, as shown in the above photo where it appears blue -versus- the below photo where it appears green. In other lighting conditions, the color can appear violet or a golden-yellow, depending on the type of light source and the angle at which it is striking the crystal. Even in these two photos, traces of different colors can be seen: e.g., a pale-green spot and a pale-blue spot against the deeper blue, above, and different shades of green and traces of purple in the photo below.

This piece is interesting from both a scientific and artistic point of view, showing what happens when a very thin layer of metal is deposited on a crystal. According to one of my sources:

Aqua aura is created in a vacuum chamber when the crystal is heated to high temperature and then the gold is added. The gold is chemically purified metal which will bond with the surface of the crystal and therefore provides the color and the overall aesthetics of the crystal. ^[3]

The same technique can be used to deposit a thin layer of platinum (producing "Opal Aura" quartz), platinum & silver (producing "Angel Aura" quartz), titanium & niobium (producing "Flame Aura" quartz), and many other combinations, each exhibiting different colors. Variants can be produced by tweaking the amounts of each element that is vaporized; for instance: in one ratio, gold & indium will produce a golden-colored "Champagne Aura" quartz, while another ratio of gold & indium will produce an indigo-blue "Tanzine Aura" quartz. Those interested can read more about these combinations at CrystalVaults.com

So, why is this even done, plating quartz with a thin layer of metal...?

Oftentimes, we do things because we can. Humans have experimented with things for centuries, just to see what is possible and what outcomes one might achieve. Also, the results are pretty and artistic — compare the plain quartz crystal in the above photo to the Aqua Aura crystal beside it. Crystals and stones so treated are sometimes used in jewelry or other ornamentation.

Also, such crystals are prized for metaphysical purposes. Aqua Aura is purported to assist in healing, stress-relief, and spiritual awareness. It is also said to bring proper alignment to all the chakras, imparting a sense of peace and well-being. Even if one chooses not to believe such, the attractiveness and uniqueness of Aqua Aura is sure to please!