Tumbled pink-and-white quartz

Hardness 7 Mohs; vitreous to waxy luster; translucent white to pale pink coloration with cloudy zoning; trigonal crystal structure, but tumbling removes crystal faces and cleavage. Specific gravity is about 2.65.

Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or igneous melts; rose coloration commonly results from trace inclusions such as dumortierite or microscopic mineral fibers. The specimen is human-tumbled and polished, so its precise geological age and source cannot be determined visually.

Used as a low-cost decorative stone, craft material, cabochon, and metaphysical collectible; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, abrasives, and construction.

Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and resists weathering exceptionally well. Pink color alone does not confirm true rose quartz, which is usually massive rather than sharply crystallized.

Identify by its glassy appearance, hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch with a steel knife; it should scratch ordinary glass. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, India, and the United States.