5 Types of Crystals You Can Find in Scotland

[Updated 31st May 2023]

We seem to have covered the areas in your local region and throughout Scotland where you can find crystals, without telling you which type of rock or mineral you can find.

Scotland has a wide and varied mix of mineralisation. We have old lava beds, we have former shallow tropical seas, we were once covered by a glacier so vast that only the tippy toppy of Ben Nevis was poking out.

As a result of all the magnificent geological activity that has taken place here over the years, Scotland has fascinating minerals.

Let’s take a few moments to appreciate the types of crystal you can find in Scotland, and even throughout the rest of the UK.

The 5 Main Types of Crystals you Find in Scotland

Here are the most common crystals you find in Scotland.

1 – Quartz

Quartz is an abundant mineral. It is about everywhere you look. You find it in gravel driveways, in quarries, in hill paths and in streams. You find it all over the country, and all over the UK. Quartz crystals are usually found in drusy form, where it blankets a host rock in a glittery coat. It can also be found in chunk form, and we are pleased to sell both types of quartz crystal.

We find the milky, cloudy quartz here. We find clear quartz here. We even find astonishing smoky quartz in Scotland.

2 – Jasper

Jasper comes in a wide variety of colours. In the central belt of Scotland, it is predominantly red or a deep purple. This is usually due to other mineral content in the soil, in this case, iron. We find yellow, orange, red, green, black, and purple jasper here. We may have found white and black jasper. Jasper is technically a variety of microgranular quartz.

We have a saying here at The Stone Circle: “In the end, it’s all just quartz.”

3 – Chalcedony

You will hear us talking about agates often. Our Tik Tok stream and Instagram pages are packed full of all thing’s agate. Agates are made from layered minerals which form over time in bubbles left by slow cooling lava. They are primarily chalcedony but can include quartz, too. They form intricate patterns that look like pictures. Scottish agates are renowned throughout the world for their vibrancy of colour and their distinctive patterns.

Chalcedony includes carnelian, which is a red-to-orange variety of chalcedony. We have agates with amethyst in them, even in geode form. Scottish mineral collectors find chalcedony in “galaxy stones,” the basaltic stone that they emerge from during the erosion. This is called vesicular basalt or amygdaloidal basalt. Let’s not forget about flint/chert, either. Prehistoric tribes would use this material to carve arrowheads. If you are exceptionally lucky, you might even find one.

4 – Amethyst Crystals

Amethyst is a variety of purple quartz that has long since been treasured for its beauty. It was carried by Ancient Greeks who thought it would stop them getting drunk. It did not.

Scottish amethyst is rarer than some of the other crystals we hunt for. The rarity only makes it worth more to us. We typically find amethyst in drusy form, which resembles the agate geode from Brazil but with a less intense colouring. Scottish amethyst is ideal for crystal healing work because each piece was retrieved by hand (and leg) from the high places by people like us.

5 – Calcite Crystals

Calcite comes in all shapes and sizes. It is one of the most remarkable minerals in the world – so seriously underrated that we question why others don’t see it. Scottish calcite comes with stair formations, in cubic growths, it comes in different compositions, for example, we have found plenty of defined dolomite. We find calcite teeth, points, and have even found rounded crystals.

When used in construction, calcite is the great reinforcer. It can solidify foundations and strengthen buildings. When used in crystal healing, it does the same. Best of all? We have rose-coloured calcite here. The iron in the soil can stain it pink. If you need a crystal ideal for heart healing and rose quartz isn’t cutting it, we suggest you up your game to rose calcite, instead.

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