mineral

Rose Quartz

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

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale pink to rose red
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of magma (igneous) in pegmatites or in hydrothermal veins. Specimens can range from hundreds of millions to billions of years old depending on the geological deposit.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as 'pocket stones' for crystal healing practices. It is also used as a gemstone for collectors and in ornamental home decor.

Geological facts

Unlike clear quartz, rose quartz rarely forms large, well-defined individual crystal prisms. The color is thought to be caused by microscopic inclusions of a fibrous pink mineral (similar to dumortierite) within the quartz matrix.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its characteristic pink hue, high hardness (will scratch glass), and lack of cleavage planes. Common locations include Brazil (Minas Gerais), South Africa, Madagascar, and the United States (South Dakota).

Other mineral specimens

See all

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral

Epidote

Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)

mineral