Are Your Crystals Changing Colour With Sun Exposure? Don’t Panic!

We find out why certain crystals change colour when exposed to light or left in direct sunlight

Q: “I have noticed over the years that the crystal I have left on my windowsill is changing colour and is getting lighter – is this something that usually happens if crystals are left in sunlight?”

A: “Some crystals will fade with too much direct sun exposure. A general rule of thumb is that if the crystal is semi-transparent, such as Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Fluorite, Celestite, Kunzite, Opal, Topaz or Rose Quartz – it may fade, with repeated or long exposure to sunlight.

“The reason for this colour change has to do with photons. In physics, a photon is a bundle of electromagnetic energy. It is the basic unit that makes up all light. These photons can interact with matter (our crystals). In some cases, the energy of the photon is absorbed by the matter. The photons from the sun are quite energetic, and they knock some of the colour-giving atoms around in the crystal. If the atom’s nucleus has a colour charge, the photon will make the atom colourless.

“So, if our crystals absorb too many photons from the sun, the photons will take over the colour-giving atoms and our crystals begin to fade. If you like to re-energise your crystals in sunlight, I would suggest leaving them for just a short while, either in early morning sunrise, or late afternoon as the sun begins to set.” – TRACY MUNN

Tracy is a crystal healer who owns a crystal shop in Essex called The Crystal Tree. More information can be found at the-crystal-tree.co.uk