Rose Quartz | Properties and Meaning
What Exactly is Rose Quartz?
Rose quartz is a variety of the mineral quartz which can be found in several countries around the world. Surprisingly pink is one of the less common colours in which quartz occurs. It rarely forms individual crystals and is mostly found in massive form which means crystals are tightly intergrown and have no definitive shape. With that said, there is a pink coloured quartz which does form crystals but it's generally believed that pink quartz as it's correctly known, is a variety in its own right. Apart from being quite rare, it forms in a different environment to rose quartz, the cause of its pink colour is believed to be from the presence of aluminium and phosphorus and it's extremely sensitive to light.
A Unique Shade of Pink
The colour of rose quartz is quite unique and has been a subject of great debate for many years. Scientists are still not entirely certain what causes its pink colour. The most popular theory is the presence of microscopic fibrous inclusions related to the mineral dumortierite. During tests when the inclusions were separated from the the quartz they were found to exhibit exactly the same colour hence it's believed they are likely to be the cause.
Popular Lapidary Material
Rose quartz is used primarily for lapidary purposes but despite being translucent, stones tend to be shaped as cabochons because when faceted they can be slightly cloudy. Beads that were found in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) date back to 7000 BC. and rose quartz is also believed to have been used by the Assyrians in 800 - 600 BC. Although also used by the Romans, it was mainly for making seals.
Rose Quartz for Crystal Healing
In crystal healing rose quartz is considered to be the ultimate stone of love and peace and it's one of the most important crystals for the healing of the heart. It's a romantic stone which attracts love and is a great emotional healer. Rose quartz is relatively hard and grades 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Although most of the world's supply comes from Brazil, stone can also be found in Madagascar, India, Germany and the USA.
Our Collection of Rose Quartz
Read More
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz#Rose_quartz
https://geology.com/gemstones/rose-quartz/
