mineral
Rose Quartz
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose-red; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink to rose-red
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to rose-red; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Commonly formed in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites. The pink color is usually attributed to microscopic inclusions of pink fibrous minerals like dumortierite.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry (beads, cabochons), carvings, and as a popular ornamental stone for collectors and metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Unlike other varieties of quartz, rose quartz rarely forms well-defined crystals; it usually occurs in massive form. The largest known deposits are found in Brazil and South Africa.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive pink hue, lack of visible crystal faces, and characteristic greasy luster when polished. It is extremely common in pegmatite-rich regions like South Dakota or Minas Gerais.
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Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
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Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
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Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic