mineral
Cherry Quartz
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide with iron-rich inclusions/dye)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 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.
