mineral

Quartz / Rose Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale pink to creamy white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale pink to creamy white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 1, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale pink to creamy white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. It crystallizes from silica-rich magma as it cools or from hot watery solutions in rock crevices.

Uses & applications

Used widely in lapidary work, jewelry, stone carvings, as an abrasive, and in the manufacturing of glass and ceramics. Also highly valued in the metaphysical and collecting communities.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Rose quartz gets its color from trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese within the material.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and translucent pinkish-white hue. Commonly found worldwide, especially in Brazil, Madagascar, and South Dakota.