mineral

Rose quartz (rough fragment)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), pink variety

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale pink to salmon, translucent, with a vitreous luster and typically massive rather than visibly crystalline texture. Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity about 2.65; the surface appears partly polished or naturally smoothed.

Identified August 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms mainly in silica-rich granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, with pink color commonly linked to microscopic inclusions of dumortierite or related minerals. Specimen age depends on its host rock, commonly Precambrian to younger.

Uses & applications

Used as ornamental stone, beads, carvings, cabochons, and inexpensive gemstone material; also collected as a mineral specimen.

Geological facts

Rose quartz is generally cloudy and massive, unlike the rarer transparent pink quartz crystals. Its pink color can fade with prolonged heating or intense light.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its pink translucent body, glassy luster, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and lack of cleavage; common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, India, South Africa, and the United States. A photo alone cannot exclude pink calcite or colored glass, so a hardness and loupe test are useful.