Applied Energistics 2: Getting Started with Certus Quartz
Applied Energistics 2 is a digital-storage and automation mod, and everything begins with its quartz. This guide covers the early materials that lead into an ME network.
Certus Quartz and charging
Certus Quartz Crystal is the foundational material. Place one in a 
Charger to make a Charged Certus Quartz Crystal, the reactive form used to grow more crystals and craft Fluix.
Growing crystals and Fluix
AE2 lets you grow quartz rather than only mining it. Using a Charged Certus Quartz Crystal in a transform recipe converts Certus Quartz Dust back into two crystals, and turns a Certus Quartz Block through the budding stages (Damaged, Chipped, Flawed Budding Certus Quartz). Combining a Charged Certus Quartz Crystal with 
Fluix Dust, or with Redstone Dust and Nether Quartz, produces 
Fluix Crystal — the mod's signature material.
Silicon and sky stone
Smelting Certus Quartz Dust yields 
Silicon, needed for processors, and meteorite-hunting turns up 
Sky Stone; craft a 
Meteorite Compass in the Charger to help locate the meteorites that hold AE2's early presses. With charged quartz, Fluix and silicon in hand, you are ready to build processors and your first storage network.
Covers the mod's in-game guide topics: