Rose Quartz: Pink Variety of Quartz
Rose quartz is a popular pink mineral used for decorative purposes and its metaphysical healing properties. This article explores what it is, the cause of its colour, and the difference between rose quartz and pink quartz.
| Contents 1. What is Rose Quartz? 2. What is Pink Quartz? 3. Article Pictures 4. Shop Rose Quartz |
What is Rose Quartz?
Rose quartz is a translucent variety of quartz that occurs in various shades of pink. Pink is one of the less common colours in which quartz occurs.
Rose quartz forms deep within the Earth's crust and is usually found in large deposits, often in pegmatites.
A pegmatite is a coarse-grained igneous rock known for its exceptionally large crystals that form during the final stages of magma crystallisation.
Major sources of rose quartz include Brazil, Madagascar, India, and South Dakota in the United States.
Rose quartz crystals usually form as one large, tightly intergrown mass with no visible external shape or form. This is unusual for quartz, which typically forms well-structured, individual crystals.
Individual crystals of this type of rose quartz have never been found. However, a different pink quartz variety does form individual crystals, which will be discussed later in this article.
The colour of rose quartz is generally stable; however, if left in direct sunlight for long periods, it has been known to fade.
Unlike many minerals, including several varieties of quartz, rose quartz is rarely heat-treated to enhance its colour.
The colour of rose quartz has been discussed extensively for many years. Despite in-depth analysis, scientists are still not entirely sure why it's pink.
The most popular theory is the presence of microscopic fibrous inclusions related to a mineral similar to dumortierite. During tests, when inclusions were separated from the rose quartz, they were found to be the same colour. It's therefore generally believed they're likely to be the cause.
Rose quartz is used primarily for decorative purposes and its metaphysical healing properties.
Although translucent, rose quartz tends to be shaped as a cabochon when used as a gemstone. This is because it's slightly cloudy due to the microscopic inclusions, and this cloudy or hazy appearance can be enhanced when stones are faceted.
Pink beads found in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) date back to 7000 BC. Rose quartz is also believed to have been used by the Assyrians (800 - 600 BC) and in ancient Greece. Although known by the Romans, it was mainly used for cylinder seals.
Like most varieties of quartz, rose quartz is relatively hard. On the Mohs scale of hardness it grades 7. Although found in several countries around the world, the majority and most of the finest grades come from Brazil.
What is Pink Quartz?
A variety of rose quartz, often called pink quartz, exhibits well-formed crystals.
This relatively rare mineral forms in a different geological environment and has a slightly different chemical composition and structure. Its colour is believed to come from impurities of aluminium and phosphorus. It's also sensitive to UV light, so unless protected, the colour will fade.
Some geologists do not recognise ‘pink quartz’ as a distinct variety, and instead use the name rose quartz for these crystallised specimens.
Likewise, massive rose quartz is sometimes labelled as pink quartz, which is also incorrect.
Article Pictures
The rose quartz in our first picture is courtesy of Stan Celestian.
The rose quartz tumbled stones are from our collection.
The rose quartz from Minas Gerais (Brazil) is in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. Photo: Stone Mania.
The pink quartz crystals: Courtesy of The Arkenstone.
