( Quartz is easily found in rock piles most anywhere, and if you can find a dealer, small chunks of quartz are not very expensive. I would send you some of mine but I love them too much to part with. :o)

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/quartz.htm

scroll down on the above link to get some GREAT scientific info on quartz

http://www.mindat.org/min-3337.html

AWESOME site for scientific info that generalizes information about ‘Quartz’ (doesn’t break it all down just tells you about quartz in general) Would be a great way to open your project.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/quartz/quartz.htm

need anything else?