mineral
Rose quartz
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂), pink variety
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; translucent pink, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and no cleavage. Typically massive rather than well-crystallized; color comes mainly from microscopic inclusions or trace elements.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent pink, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and no cleavage. Typically massive rather than well-crystallized; color comes mainly from microscopic inclusions or trace elements.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids crystallize in igneous and metamorphic environments, commonly associated with granite and pegmatite. Most rose quartz is Precambrian to younger, but exact age depends on its host rock.
Uses & applications
Used as an ornamental stone, beads, carvings, cabochons, and inexpensive jewelry; fine transparent material is collectible but uncommon.
Geological facts
The specimen’s rough, pale-pink appearance is consistent with rose quartz, though pink calcite or glass can look similar. Rose quartz rarely forms sharply terminated crystals.
Field identification & locations
Common localities include Brazil, Madagascar, India, South Africa, and the United States. Confirm with a scratch test: quartz scratches glass, while calcite does not; avoid testing valuable specimens.
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Metamorphic
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metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
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Granite
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Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary