mineral
Cherry Quartz
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide with iron-rich inclusions/dye)
Hardness: 7 Mohs scale; Color: Pink with darker pink or red striations; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink with darker pink or red striations
- Luster
- Vitreous
Identified More mineral →
Explore Cherry Quartz in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs scale; Color: Pink with darker pink or red striations; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Primarily created by melting natural quartz and adding iron-rich cinnabar or similar minerals/pigments to create the signature cherry 'plume' appearance.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in jewelry making such as beads (as seen in the image), cabochons, and decorative carvings. Used also in metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Cherry Quartz is technically a 'man-aided' stone, made by melting natural quartz and reconstituting it with colorants. It is popular because natural pink quartz rarely shows these distinct dark red plumes.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the characteristic 'plume' or 'feather' patterns inside the translucent pink quartz. In the field, natural rose quartz would look more milky and uniform.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous