“Sugar quartz” is a descriptive name rather than a separate mineral species. It refers to a surface covered in tiny crystal faces that catch the light with a fine, sparkling look. I think the name suits the texture: it looks a little like sugar crystals scattered across the stone.

The material is quartz, made from silicon and oxygen. Quartz forms in many different geological settings, including cracks and cavities where silica-rich fluids can deposit crystals as they cool. It is a hard mineral, measuring 7 on the Mohs scale, but the small crystal faces on a textured surface can still be chipped by a knock.

My Sugar Quartz Point has an upright cluster shape, with a white, translucent base and shoulders and a honeyed tone through the middle. The piece in my shop was mined in Madagascar but I won’t guess what minerals account for the golden area without testing the stone.

The sugared texture comes from the many small crystal faces, rather than from a separate coating. There is a visible chip on the tip, shown in the photographs. I’ve left it as it is, and it still stands on its own.

Traditionally associated with

Quartz has a long history in personal adornment, ritual objects and crystal traditions. In contemporary practice, people may choose a quartz piece as a focus for personal intention or place it on an altar. The Sugar Quartz Point has a lovely, bright texture that makes it easy to notice among smoother stones. These are symbolic and personal uses, not promises about what a stone will do.

How I look after it

I dust the surface with a soft, dry cloth, taking care around the small crystal faces. I avoid abrasive cloths and household cleaners, which could scratch or dull the finish. Quartz is hard, but that doesn’t make a pointed cluster unbreakable, so I keep it somewhere stable where it won’t be knocked over.

The tip already has a chip, which is visible in the photographs. I handle it gently and avoid putting pressure on that area. A secure shelf or altar is a good place for it, and I wouldn’t store it loose with jewellery or other stones.

In my shop

The Sugar Quartz Point is £20 and approximately 6cm tall and wide. It has a white, translucent base, honeyed colour through the middle and a sparkling surface of small crystal faces. The tip has a visible chip, which I’ve shown in the photographs.

This is a one-off, so the piece in the photographs is the one that arrives. It stands on its own, with no stand needed.

Free UK shipping on orders over £50. Everything is sent from Luton, and collection is available if you are local.