Crystals to Keep Away From The Sun

CRYSTALS THAT SHOULD NOT BE UNDER DIRECT SUNLIGHT

There are hundreds of crystals available with diverse spiritual and metaphysical healing properties, hence not all crystals can be treated the same way when it comes to cleansing and care.

Some crystals operate best when cleansed in water but can be badly damaged when exposed to sunlight, whilst other gemstones receive energy from the sun but instead cannot be placed in water (otherwise they would fade, dissolve or release toxic minerals).

The chemistry behind the structure of certain crystals is the scientific explanation around why they cannot be exposed to direct sunlight or water. Each crystal is composed of a multitude of minerals that contribute to their unique beauty and healing properties (ie. Lithium with Lepidolite, Copper with Malachite, etc...).

As a general rule...

Examine the transparency of crystals to identify which should not be exposed to sunlight. Most transparent crystals should not be exposed to sunlight since the heat and light exposure causes the colors to fade or the crystals to shatter.

The following is a quick list of crystals that should not be exposed to sunlight, but conduct your own study on what additional crystals may and cannot be exposed to light. Some translucent crystals can only be exposed to direct sunlight for 5 minutes, whilst others may be exposed for up to 30 minutes.

Why can't some crystals be exposed to the sun?

Certain crystals should not be exposed to sunlight for a number of reasons. Here are a few things to think about before exposing your crystals and gemstones to direct sunlight.

1- They are susceptible to fading.
The most serious repercussion of exposing transparent crystals to sunlight is the potential of their hues fading. The Quartz family is one of the crystals that suffers from this. Indeed, when kept in direct sunlight, the hues of any Quartz will vanish, becoming a Clear Quartz crystal instead.

2- They can be prone to cracking.
When exposed to sunlight, most transparent crystals become brittle and dry, which can lead to splitting or even breaking in half over time.

3- They will lose their ability to cool.
These particular gemstones hold properties that are said to balance out excessive heat in the body, either physically or emotionally. When these stones are exposed to direct sunlight, their cooling healing properties lose part of their potency. Examples of cooling stones include crystals such as Rose Quartz, Aventurine, and Aquamarine. 

4- They can lose water content.
Opals, for example, contain water molecules and some types (such as Boulder Opals) are frequently preserved in water to stay hydrated. If you stumble across an Opal that has been stored in water but you want to retain and show it dry, be patient and dry it carefully to make sure it doesn't become fragile and brittle.

~

So what crystals shouldn't be exposed to direct sunlight?

★ All types of Quartz

The Quartz crystal family includes a wide range of stones, characteristics, and hues. Rose Quartz, Citrine, Smoky Quartz, Amethyst, Aventurine and other Quartz crystals are all part of this group.

Unfortunately, because of the presence of minerals such as manganese, iron, or titanium, Quartz cannot be kept under direct sunlight for lengthy periods of time without losing its beautiful hues. For this reason most, if not all, Quartz crystals are on the list of crystals that should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

For instance: Amethyst, due to its exquisite hues and wonderful healing properties, this gemstone is much sought for and very popular. Amethyst is a crystal composed of silicon, oxygen, and tiny amounts of iron, which gives it its deep, appealing purple hue. When exposed to UV rays, the lovely deep purple hue fades to a duller tone.

★ Fluorite

Fluorite is composed of Calcium Fluoride, making it a powerful absorber of solar radiation. If you must expose Fluorite to direct sunlight, we suggest to limit its exposure to 15 minutes or less, otherwise this crystal will heat up, and its lovely hues will fade in the sunlight.

★ Calcite

Calcite is available in a wide spectrum of hues, including blue, orange, pink, golden, and green tones. These hues may fade if left under the sun. Calcite can also get brittle in the sun, causing your stones to break. Keep it on your list of crystals that should not be exposed to sunlight.

★ Aquamarine

Aquamarine is available in a wide range of blue tones. When exposed to direct sunshine, the dreamy aqua-blue and green shades of this crystal gradually fades to white.

★ Opal

Opal is a hydrated amorphous silica stone with a large percentage of water content. It comes in a variety of colors but loses its exquisite transparent color when exposed to direct sunlight.

★ Apatite

Apatite is a crystal that comes in a wide range of rich, vivid colors but if exposed to direct sunlight its lovely hue can fade when exposed to sunshine.

★ Ametrine

Ametrine is a unique gemstone which combines Amethyst and Citrine, both of which fade in sunshine. This fading may not be instant, but Ametrine's hues will undoubtedly fade overtime.

★ Cacoxenite

Cacoxenite is a stunning gemstone composed of seven different types of minerals which produce a stunning blend of purple, pink, brown, and clear colorings, however its hue may fade if exposed to direct sunlight over an extended period of time.

★ Unakite

Unakite Jasper is a mind and heart healing gemstone. It is a gorgeous stone with a blend of green and pink tones. If Unakite is exposed to direct sunlight, it can fade over time.

~

And don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Shop our range of crystal jewelry by clicking here.

Check out our Youtube channel for more mystic related content!