Crystals carry stories that stretch back millions of years, formed under pressure and deep earth alchemy. But what do they reveal when viewed through the eyes of a geologist?

I sat down with Emily from Crystal Case Studies to get her unapologetically honest hot takes. From the science of mineral formations to the energy we project onto them, Emily cuts through myths, brings clarity, and shows us how geology knowledge can amplify crystal ownership and our relationship with the earth.

This is Crystal Conversations; stripped back, real. Inviting you to see your crystals in a whole new light.

"The short answer is that it's complicated - which is what makes it interesting to me.

From a scientific perspective, crystals absolutely do interact with energy. Quartz, for example, exhibits piezoelectricity: apply mechanical pressure and it generates an electrical charge. Tourmaline is pyroelectric - heated crystals will attract small particles, a trait exploited by Dutch traders who used tourmalines to pull ash from their pipes, nicknamed Aschentrekker’s (ash pullers). Jet, that funky black mineraloid from Whitby, is triboelectric and becomes ‘charged’ when rubbed or polished, attracting dust - and Roman jet artifacts are still charged today, after 1,500 years (wow!).

But when we talk about crystals and "vibes" in the metaphysical sense - whether a rose quartz can emit loving energy or an amethyst can calm mental chatter - we're in different territory. There's no peer-reviewed scientific evidence that crystals emit frequencies that directly alter human emotions or health in the way energy healers describe."

"If carrying a stone helps you to feel more grounded, centred, or calm, that's a genuine psychological and physiological response. The placebo effect is a documented, powerful phenomenon. Your nervous system responds to ritual, intention, and belief. In this scenario, the crystal becomes a tool for focus, much like a meditation cushion or a desk mascot."

I had to think very hard to narrow this down, otherwise I’d be writing all evening. The Banded Iron Formations are pretty mind-blowing, though not always visually sexy. These are really ancient rocks, between 1.8 and 2.5 billion years old, and they document one of the most significant events in Earth's history. 

Before photosynthetic bacteria evolved, Earth's oceans were being pumped full of dissolved iron by seafloor volcanoes and the atmosphere had almost no oxygen. Our continents were empty, rocky, barren plains, and without an ozone layer (the protective oxygenated atmosphere), the Earth was exposed to intense and unfiltered ultraviolet radiation. 

Cyanobacteria slowly evolved and started producing oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. That oxygen bonded with the iron in the oceans, causing it to rust and sink to the seafloor in layers. These rocks are literally the rusted corpse of an ancient ocean - and evidence of the moment life changed the entire planet's chemistry. Most organisms at the time died in what geologists call the Great Oxidation Event. The banded rocks you see today are a bacteria graveyard, and a birth certificate for life as we know it.

This phenomenon, on a microscopic scale, is what lends sparkly feldspars their shimmer, as the boundaries between these layers interact with light.

And I can feel a tourmaline habit developing on the horizon - though I'm not sure my bank account is ready!"

"As a geologist, I'm possibly a bit of a purist in this respect. I've dedicated my whole life to studying and understanding the Earth, so if something isn't in its original Earth-formed condition, I'm much less likely to be interested in it. TBH, this even extends to polishing - you're unlikely to find a sphere or polished point in my house! I'm much more of a raw specimen girl.

But spend five minutes in any crystal shop and anyone can see there's an enormous market for tweaked, treated, and ‘fake’ crystals - whether that's a polished point, an aura coating, or downright synthetic man-made glass. I think everyone's personal preference sits somewhere on this spectrum, and everyone has the right to make educated, informed choices. But the critical part of that arrangement is that every party is informed and able to make decisions based on fact."

"How to tell the difference? Watch for red flags: unnatural colours, suspiciously perfect formations, and faces, prices too good to be true, vague locality info. Research common treatments and dupes for specific minerals. A reputable seller will answer your questions about origin and treatment openly."

"Source locality, definitely. It unlocks so much - indications of ethical standards, characteristics of the stock, mineral classification… the lot. At the very least, know the source country and ideally the region before you buy."

"Good question! I haven’t talked about it much online, but I’m a Quaker - a small Christian denomination founded in the 17th century, hinging on values like peace, integrity, and equality. (If you’ve seen brown signs for a ‘Friends Meeting House’, that’s us!) Quakers are broadly evangelical, though the Bible isn’t required reading. I’ve met Muslim and Jewish Quakers before who adopt our set of beliefs as a moral compass rather than a theology - non-theistic adoption of these values is sometimes known as ‘spiritual energy’ or a universal force, which are themes I see mirrored in energetic practice involving crystals.

I sit within the non-theistic part of the Quaker spectrum and wouldn’t necessarily call myself Christian. I identify with Quakerism for its focus on the ‘Light within’ - the divine presence in every individual. The rejection of ordained, hierarchical, ‘holier than thou’ authority is common now, especially within spiritual communities, but it was quite radical in the 17th century!"

Studying science whilst holding religious belief involves some duality. Traditional theologies like creationism contradict accepted geological theories, and more nuanced beliefs like mine involve an inner Spirit - something that physics, chemistry or biology can’t record. A core Quaker principle is continued revelation: truth is not confined to historical context or sealed in religious texts, but continually revealed to open and enquiring minds.

I recognise this in my love for geology - Earth science is a field of ongoing research and discovery. Plate tectonics, now taught to primary school children, was completely rejected until the 1960s, when post-WWII seafloor exploration provided the evidence. I find it astounding that such a core principle was laughed at by lecturers who taught my parents, and thrilling that scientific understanding will continue to develop and deepen throughout my lifetime. Physicist and Quaker Jocelyn Bell Burnell talks of research science and faith running in “parallel streams”, and I agree. These two areas of my life are in harmony, sustained by the same philosophy.

I recommend ‘A Quaker Astronomer Reflects: Can A Scientist Also Be Religious?’ by the physicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell for further reading on this specific intersection."

"Where to start! I have to say that I can’t stand those little ‘miners on amethyst’ things you get in gift shops. Tiny metal mining men glued on top of an amethyst crystal, with little pickaxes and minecarts. In the same vein, I can’t stand the ‘fake bird perching on a geode’ phenomenon - I think this was a Brazilian thing from the 80s and 90s. Ew!!"

Want to deepen your understanding of the stones you love? Emily offers a range of ways to explore crystal geology - whether you're a collector, healer, or seller looking to bridge the gap between science and spirituality.

Workshops & Classes

Join Emily for live or pre-recorded workshops covering topics like metamorphic environments, the feldspar group, crystal geology basics, and more. Each session blends expert geological knowledge with accessible, interactive teaching, plus you get lifetime access to any recordings.

Private Consultations & Bespoke B2B

Looking for tailored education for your team, event, or community? Emily offers private workshops, guest speaking, and curriculum development for crystal businesses, holistic schools, and subscription services.

A very special takeaway here I wanted to end this interview with, that Emily so stunningly wove together with her sheer passion and knowledge, is that geology is the heart-story. That, rocks and crystals are the living proof of our earths history. Beyond our true comprehension of time. Geology IS why crystals are so magical. They don't need a humans 'spiritual definition' to make them 'cooler'.

Every crystal inclusion, fracture, phantom, or hue is a record of earth history, of the land where it was birthed, written over millions of years. And without acknowledging that history, how can we truly appreciate what we’re holding in our hands?

To overlook the science is to strip a crystal and the earth of a voice. It would be like receiving a gift without recognising, or even thanking, the person who gave it to you. When we honour the geological story, we enter into reciprocity with the earth itself. Acknowledging the forces, time, and environment that shaped the crystal before it found its way to us. It's the least we can do.

It is honestly unbelievable when you think about it, can you even hold a raw specimen crystal without the thought popping into your head: "how did the earth create you?" I know that we can't. Crystals put existence, into perspective.

It's beautiful madness. And this is why we're totally crystal obsessed. Never stop being curious. Asking questions. Discovering, learning. 

Again, thank you Emily for continuing to ignite passion in the industry and in all those you meet. You are a blessing.