mineral
Tumbled pink-and-white quartz
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), likely rose quartz mixed with milky quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; pale pink, white, and translucent areas; vitreous to waxy luster; trigonal crystal structure; no cleavage, with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity about 2.65. Dark marks may be iron- or manganese-bearing inclusions or surface fractures.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; pale pink, white, and translucent areas; vitreous to waxy luster; trigonal crystal structure; no cleavage, with conchoidal fracture; specific gravity about 2.65. Dark marks may be iron- or manganese-bearing inclusions or surface fractures.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous and hydrothermal fluids; rose coloration commonly results from microscopic inclusions of phosphate minerals or trace elements. The specimen was naturally formed, then rounded and polished by tumbling; its exact geological age and locality cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone, lapidary material, carvings, cabochons, and inexpensive jewelry; quartz is also important industrially in glass, electronics, and abrasives.
Geological facts
Rose quartz commonly occurs massive rather than as well-formed crystals, while milky quartz owes its opacity to fluid inclusions. Pink color can fade with prolonged sunlight or heating.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its glassy/waxy appearance, lack of cleavage, hardness, and inability to scratch with a steel knife but ability to scratch glass. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, India, and the United States.
