
mineral
Rose Quartz
Silicon dioxide / Quartz (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink to rose red
- Luster
- Vitreous/glassy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous/glassy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in magma-rich environments, specifically in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. It gets its pink color from trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, or microscopic fiber inclusions of dumortierite.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in jewelry, as ornamental gemstones, carved into figurines, and in holistic practices. Industrially, quartz is used for abrasive purposes and in glass manufacturing.
Geological facts
Rose quartz rarely forms visible crystals; it usually grows in massive, large-scale clumps. It was once thought that the color came from titanium, but modern research suggests microscopic mineral needles are the cause.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinct pink hue and conchoidal (shell-like) fracture patterns. It is frequently found in Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa, and the United States (South Dakota).
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