mineral
Rose Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with traces of titanium, iron, or manganese
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- Pale pink to rose red
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Pale pink to rose red; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous pegmatites or hydrothermal veins as magma cools and crystallizes. The pink color is often due to microscopic inclusions of pink fibers closely related to dumortierite.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in lapidary for carvings, spheres, beads, and cabochons. Frequently used in gemstone therapy and as a decorative mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Unlike other varieties of quartz, rose quartz rarely forms visible individual crystals; it usually grows in massive, formless chunks. The color can fade if exposed to excessive sunlight.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic pink hue, high hardness (can scratch glass), and lack of cleavage (breaks like glass). Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, and South Dakota, USA.
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