morion

Morion is a term used for two distinct things in different fields: a mineral variety and a historical helmet. The two uses are unrelated beyond sharing the same name.

Morion (mineral) refers to a black to dark brown variety of smoky quartz (silicon dioxide). Its dark color results from iron inclusions and sometimes irradiation. Morion ranges from opaque to translucent and can form prismatic crystals in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. It is collected for its uniform dark hue and is cut for jewelry and decorative purposes. Important sources include Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and other regions where smoky quartz occurs.

Morion (helmet) describes an open-faced helmet of the Renaissance era. Typically made of steel, it features a brim and a high crest or comb, with little or no facial protection. The morion was widely used in the 16th and 17th centuries by Spanish and other European infantry and guards, commonly seen in European military attire and in depictions of the period. Variants existed across regions, and the design gradually gave way to helmets with more comprehensive facial protection and visors.

In summary, morion denotes either a dark quartz variety valued by collectors and jewelers or a characteristic mid-early modern helmet associated with European armies and explorers.