does anyone know where i can get a couple of pieces of quartz and copper rods from and a reasonable amount of metal shavings?
Quartz is a piezoelectric, which means basically that if you squeeze it you can create an electric field along the direction you squeezed it in. Piezoelectricity is the phenomenon that makes a quartz clock work. That seems pretty powerful!
Crystals themselves do not have much power in them. They are good channelers for energy though and that is why they are often put in watches nowadays. Having mystical powers is not really in Quartz's scope, because 1) they are usually impure materials 2) they are not crafted to do anything and 3) because magic rocks are usually attributed in mythology as being rubies or emeralds and such. If you are thinking about the legends of the Crystal Skulls, the power of the skulls are more phycological effects by finding a peaceful place because of the pretty colors inside of the rocks. The magic does not come from the rock. There is no way to harness a piece of quartz's magic energy because it is just a piece of rock. They look cool, but there isn't anything radioactive or paranormal about quartz. Sorry to disappoint.
Haven't heard of the quartz crystal in specifics. However I have heard that granite is supposed to have a influence on paranormal or spiritual activity. Most granites are composed of a large amount of quartz. Also I have heard of quartz crystals used to focus energies.
That really depends on what school of practice you are interested in, and what you intend to do with the crystal. If you ask a general question like this, you are likely to get as many varied responses as there are respondents. I don't work with crystals myself, but I am familiar with this bit of common practice. Some people have been known to expose them to the light of the full moon to charge them, and then use them as a sort of magical battery, storing and holding the moonlight for other uses.
