Geological Information

Geological Information of Rose Quartz

• Alternative name: Pink Quartz
• Rose quartz is a type of quartz name for its colour.

General Identification

• Type: Mineral
• Class: Silicates
• Category: Oxides
• Formula: SiO2 Silicon Dioxide
• Crystal System: Trigonal
• Habit: 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid (typical), drusy, fine-grained to microcrystalline, massive
• Mohs Hardness:  7
• Luster / Diaphaneity: Transparent to nearly opaque, Vitreous, in massive: waxy or dull.
• Colour: pale pink to rose pink

Special Notes

• It most often grows in masses - never even finding a leading edge of crystal points.
• Occasionally found in crystal cluster form and was officially given own name of Pink Quartz but that has now gone.
• Rose quartz occurs in pegmatites - it forms at very high temperatures, between 400 and 700 degrees Centigrade.
• The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, in the material.
  • Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the quartz.
• "Star" Rose Quartz has microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light.
• The crystalline form in elestial in form was originally not called rose quartz and was called Pink Quartz.
  • Often over grew smoky quartz.
  • Found to leach very fast in UV light!
  • Synthetic versions exist.
  • These days all forms are called Rose Quartz.
• Irradiation may cause the formation of smoky quartz color centers and add a gray tone.
• Streaks of orange can occur from iron coating.
• Mostly used for jewellery and decorative objects.
• More geological information and more here.