mineral

Rose quartz

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), pink variety

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically pale to medium pink, translucent to cloudy, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, no cleavage, hexagonal crystal structure, and specific gravity about 2.65. The specimen appears massive and rough rather than well-crystallized.

Identified August 8, 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

Formation & geological history

Forms mainly in felsic igneous rocks, especially pegmatites and granitic veins, where trace elements and microscopic inclusions produce the pink color. Most rose quartz is Precambrian to younger, though an exact age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for ornamental stone, beads, carvings, tumbled specimens, and occasional cabochons; massive material has limited industrial value compared with clear quartz.

Geological facts

The pink color is commonly linked to microscopic dumortierite-like inclusions or irradiation-related defects, rather than simply manganese. Rose quartz rarely forms transparent, sharply defined crystals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its pink color, glassy fracture, hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, and lack of obvious cleavage; distinguish it from pink calcite, which is softer and cleaves readily. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, India, South Africa, and the United States.