mineral

Rose Quartz

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

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

Identified June 15, 2026More mineral →

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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

Primarily forms in pegmatites through the cooling of silica-rich magma; also found in hydrothermal veins. Often found in Precambrian formations around 500 million to 1 billion years old.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in lapidary work for jewelry, decorative carvings, beads, and metaphysical specimens. Historically used in masks and cosmetics in ancient Egypt.

Geological facts

Unlike other varieties of quartz, rose quartz rarely forms well-defined macroscopic crystals; it usually occurs in massive form. The pink color is often attributed to microscopic inclusions of a fibrous pink mineral called dumortierite.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its characteristic pink hue, high hardness (can scratch glass), and lack of cleavage (breaks like glass). Major sources include Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa, and the United States (South Dakota).

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