Quartz growth

In an attempt to stimulate onshore production of synthetic quartz and piezoelectric devices in the 1970s, Brazil imposed an embargo on exports and ultimately raised the price several-fold for small quartz crystals used as the starting material for quartz growth. However, sources of suitable pure quartz were located in the United States and Canada, including vein and pegmatic deposits (1). Synthetic processes compatible with the natural U.S. quartz starting material from a variety of sources were developed, and U.S. production became relatively independent of imports (1). 

For quartz, growth is usually accomplished at 85% fill ind 2000 atmospheres at 350 °C. 

Ribet, I. Thiry, M. (1990) Quartz growth in limestone example from water-table silicification in the Paris Basin. In Noack, Y. Nahon, D. (Eds) Geochemistry of the Earth s Surface and of Mineral Formation, 2nd International Symposium, 2-8 July, Aix en Provence, France. Chemical Geology 84, 316-319. 

Co as demonstrated at AFRL-Hanscom [35]) is possible, very high laser hardness can be obtained (as demonstrated in AFRL-Hanscom [35] crystals, even with 10 electrons jew ), faceted growth for nonpolar material is possible and finally, hardware required for growth is essentially the same as that for quartz growth, which is very mature. 

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