Quartz's piezoelectric properties were discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie in 1880. The quartz oscillator or resonator was first developed by Walter Guyton Cady in 1921. George Washington Pierce designed and patented quartz crystal oscillators in 1923.

When and where was quartz discovered?

Quartz crystals were valued by the ancient Egyptians as talismans with powers to prevent aging. - Bob Kammerling Rose quartz beads dating back to 7000 BC have been found in the area once known as Mesopotamia (today's Iraq). Rose quartz jewelry was known to be crafted by the Assyrians around 800-600 BC.

Where is quartz found?

Rock crystal quartz is found widely distributed, some of the more notable localities being: the Alps; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Madagascar; and Japan. The best quartz crystals from the United States are found at HotSprings, Arkansas, and Little Falls and Ellenville, New York.