Crystals are pretty pieces of nature that we keep around because they're beautiful or make us feel happy. But crystals are also used in a lot of other important ways that most of us don't even think about.
Sugar is a very common type of crystal that we all know- Americans consume an average of 20 teaspoons a day!
Another crystal we love to eat? Salt-or sodium chloride- occurs naturally when saltwater evaporates, leaving cubic salt crystals.
Quartz is used in watches and clocks to keep accurate time, by sending electricity through a Quartz crystal. The electricity makes it vibrate at a precise frequency which regulates the movement of the clock or watch!
Graphite is a crystalline form of carbon that is very soft and has many uses. It is mixed with clay to create the 'lead' of pencils, which actually have no lead at all. Graphite is also used as a lubricant, conductor and plays an important role in Lithium batteries.
Silicon is an important ingredient to making computer chips and processors, so you can thank crystals for your smartphone and your laptop. LCD screens are Liquid Crystal Display. The liquid crystals are great at carrying light precisely so they make great screens.
Drywall is often made of gypsum, so you are likely surrounded by it right now if you're inside.
And if not, maybe you're surrounded by another type of crystal- snow- which is crystallized water.
These are just a few examples of crystals that we use or see in everyday life- besides the ones we keep for their beauty or metaphysical properties. Crystals are everywhere!