mineral

Rose Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale pink to rose red. Luster: Vitreous/Glassy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Pale pink to rose red
Luster: Vitreous/Glassy

Identified March 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale pink to rose red. Luster: Vitreous/Glassy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in high-temperature silica-rich pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. It crystallizes from cooling magma in deep crustal environments. Most deposits are millions of years old, often dating to the Precambrian or Paleozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry for beads and cabochons, ornamental carvings, and home decor. Occasionally used in the electronics industry for its piezoelectric properties, though synthetic quartz is more common for technical use.

Geological facts

Unlike regular quartz, rose quartz rarely forms large well-defined crystals; it typically grows in massive lumps. Some specimens exhibit 'asterism' (a star effect) when polished into cabochons due to microscopic rutile inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its translucent pink color and inability to be scratched by a steel blade. Found extensively in Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa, and the Black Hills of South Dakota (USA). Look for massive outcroppings in pegmatite mines.

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