quartz

n.

a mineral; the common form of nativesilica. It is abundantly diffused throughout the world, andforms the common sand of the sea-shore. It occurs as veins orlodes in metamorphic rocks, and it is this form of its presencein Australia, associated with gold, that has made the word ofsuch daily occurrence. In fact, the word Quartz, inAustralian mining parlance, is usually associated with the ideaof Gold-bearing Stone, unless the contrary be stated.Although some of the following compound words may be usedelsewhere, they are chiefly confined to Australia.

1871. C. L. Money, `Knocking About in New Zealand,' p. 21:

«Quartz is the mother of gold, and wherever there is anabundance of it, gold may reasonably be expected to existsomewhere in the neighbourhood.»

1890. `The Argus,' June 16, p. 6. col. 1:

«Two runaway apprentices from a ship are said to have firstcrushed quartz.»

1890. R. A. F. Murray, `Reports and Statistics of theMining Department [of Victoria] for the Quarter ending 31stDecember':

«The quartz here is very white and crystalline, withferruginous, clayey joints, and – – from a miner's point ofview – – of most unpromising or `hungry' appearance.»