mineral

Rose Quartz

SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale pink to rose red
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 18, 2026More mineral →

Explore Rose Quartz in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: Indistinct/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in igneous pegmatites through the slow cooling of silica-rich magma; the pink color is often credited to traces of titanium, iron, or manganese, or microscopic inclusions of dumortierite.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular specimen for crystal collecting and metaphysical purposes.

Geological facts

Unlike other varieties of quartz, rose quartz rarely forms well-defined macroscopic crystals; it usually occurs in massive form. It is the state mineral of South Dakota.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its characteristic pink hue, hardness (will scratch glass), and lack of cleavage. Common in Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States (South Dakota).