How Crystals Became a Multibillion-Dollar Industry

The Tucson Gem and Mineral showcase is the nucleus of the mineral trade in the US. Thousands of miners and sellers from all over the world descend on Tuscan to buy and sell crystals of all types sizes and values. In 2018, a three-and-a-half foot red tourmaline crystal was up for sale. Experts say some $5 billion worth of crystals are sold in a three-week period. How did healing Crystals go from a holistic cottage industry to mainstream markets? Traditionally, there have been two types of buyers at the showcase: Mineral collectors and high-end gem retailers like Tiffany's and Cartier. But there’s a new wave of consumers causing a sort of mania in the gem and mineral market: healers. The recent wave of interest in crystals started in the 1970’s with white quartz. Since then, demand has continued to grow due to increased interest in alternative healing methods bolstered by celebrity endorsements.