Spotting Crystal Fakes

Crystals are remarkable and glorious gifts from Earth.

Some crystal lovers prefer their crystals to be all-natural, in the raw, as they were found.

Others may be drawn to the beauty of crystals that have been enhanced in some way but they may be totally unaware that they have been artificially altered. Maybe the crystals have been molecularly bonded, irradiated, tumbled, cut, polished, or heat-treated in a lab. I am using the word "lab" for ease and flow but oftentimes, the heating I am talking about here is not done in a lab at all: it happens in a dusty warehouse by the miners themselves, and miners do not tend to wear lab coats.

So, is the crystal you purchased natural, enhanced, or an all-out fake?

Sometimes, the only way to know for sure is with exhaustive lab tests. However, you can still use your crystal skills and a little geology know-how to make a strong educated guess. I see many misinformed internet videos or posts on some that I have included here and just want to set the record straight so you can make wise and informed decisions when buying crystals.

I think it is important to know what you are getting, so you know geologically exactly what you are working with. Sellers are not always looking to purposefully deceive anyone: sometimes, they themselves have no idea.