mineral

Rose Quartz

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide - SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose-red; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pink to rose-red
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified June 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose-red; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins from the cooling of silica-rich magma. The pink color is generally attributed to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, or microscopic inclusions of dumortierite.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for ornamental purposes, carvings, jewelry (beads and cabochons), and as a popular specimen for collectors. Used in landscaping and as a 'healing stone' in alternative medicine markets.

Geological facts

Unlike other varieties of quartz, rose quartz rarely forms well-defined visible crystals and usually occurs in massive form. The first rose quartz crystals were only discovered in the 1930s in Maine.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinct pink hue and conchoidal (glass-like) fracture pattern. It cannot be scratched by a steel knife. Common locations include Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa, and the Black Hills of South Dakota.