mineral
Pink Quartz (Inclusion-Rich Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite/Limonite inclusions
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Features a vitreous to earthy luster, conchoidal fracture, and a translucent pinkish-brown to reddish-orange color. Trigonal crystal system.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Features a vitreous to earthy luster, conchoidal fracture, and a translucent pinkish-brown to reddish-orange color. Trigonal crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites as magma cools or from silica-rich fluids. The pink/orange hues are often caused by micro-inclusions of iron oxides like hematite or goethite during crystallization.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as rough specimens for mineral collecting, lapidary workshops for tumbling, and in metaphysical or alternative healing practices.
Geological facts
Unlike Rose Quartz, which gets its color from fibrous inclusions of a borosilicate mineral, this type of pink quartz often derives its color from surface coatings or internal iron oxide stains. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and characteristic waxy or glassy luster. Commonly found in riverbeds, gravel pits, and mountainous regions worldwide.
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