Rose Quartz - Mineral and Healing Properties
Chemistry: continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Tectosilicates
Uses: Extensive
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- Rose Quartz
- Crystal Point
- Rose Quartz Polished
- Faceted
Rose quartz is a type of quartz which exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, in the massive material. Some rose quartz contains microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the massive quartz.
In crystal form (rarely found) it is called pink quartz and its color is thought to be caused by trace amounts of phosphate or aluminium. The color in crystals is apparently photosensitive and subject to fading. The first crystals were found in a pegmatite found near Rumford, Maine, USA, but most crystals on the market come from Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Origin Of The Name
The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "quarz" and its Middle High German ancestor "twarc", which probably originated in Slavic (cf. Czech tvrd ("hard"), Polish twardy ("hard"). Quarz which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it kremen). Other sources attribute the word's origin to the Saxon word Querkluftertz, meaning cross-vein ore.
Interesting Facts
Rose quartz crystals are very rare which is a curiosity because quartz crystallizes into well-formed crystals and is common to find in all its other varieties. So amazing are the rose quartz crystals that the first ones discovered were dismissed as fakes by mineralogists from around the world.
Quartz is the hardest of common minerals. Only rare minerals, such as diamonds, are harder than quartz. Quartz has many uses. It is used to make mortar and glass. Lenses are made from rock quartz. The French scientist Pierre Curie discovered in the 1880's that slices of quartz crystals become electrically charged when squeezed. Because of this property, quartz is used in radio, television, radar and in highly accurate clocks. Pure quartz consists of only two elements - silicon and oxygen. It is clear and glass-like.
Where Is It Found
Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, India, Germany, and several localities in the USA. Much rose quartz was extracted from a famous site near Custer, South Dakota, but now, most of the worlds supply of good quality rose quartz comes from Brazil.
Brazil is also the only current source of true well-formed crystals of rose quartz. Rose quartz was once believed to be only massive, found primarily in the cores of pegmatites.
What Do We Do With It
Rose quartz is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. It is also an alternate birthstone for the month of January. Rose quartz is associated with emotional balance and forgiveness.
Although rose quartz is usually too cloudy to be used as a cut gemstone, a few exceptional pieces are found with enough clarity and color to make fine gems. Most gemmy rose quartz is used as cabochons where the clarity is not as important as the color. Rose quartz is also a very attractive ornamental stone and is carved into spheres, pyramids, obelisks, figurines and ornate statues.
Metaphysical Uses
Rose quartz is often called the "Love Stone." It's energetic hallmark is that of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra. This makes rose quartz a stone for every type of love: self-love, family, platonic, romantic, and unconditional. As a variety of quartz, rose quartz has high energy, and this strong energy can enhance love in virtually any situation.
This stone of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love. The high energy of quartz gives rose quartz the property of enhancing love in virtually any situation. Bringing love in to life and daily situations not only brings inner warmth, but it also lowers stress and soothes those around it. Rose quartz is a very happy and loving stone.
In the psychic and spiritual realms, rose quartz is often used to attract love, for love spells and charms. It is also used to ease the process of transition in dying to make the transition gentle and surrounded by the unconditional love of the Divine. Rose quartz can also be helpful for dream recall and dream work.
Rose quartz is used to raise self-esteem and a strong sense of self-worth. Its loving energies teach us to apply this love to ourselves and thereby find ourselves more worthy.
Physical Characteristics
Color: Various shades of pink to a rosy-red.
Luster: Glassy to vitreous as crystals, while cryptocrystalline forms are usually waxy to dull but can be vitreous.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent, cryptocrystalline forms can be translucent or opaque.
Crystal System: Trigonal; 3 2
Crystal Habits: Widely variable but the most common habit is hexagonal prisms terminated with a six sided pyramid (actually two rhombohedrons). Three of the six sides of the pyramid may dominate causing the pyramid to be or look three sided. Left and right handed crystals are possible and identifiable only if minor trigonal pyramidal faces are present. Druse forms (crystal lined rock with just the pyramids showing) are also common. Massive forms can be just about any type but common forms include botryoidal, globular, stalactitic, crusts of agate such as lining the interior of a geode and many many more.
Cleavage: Very weak in three directions (rhombohedral)
Fracture: Conchoidal
Hardness: 7
Specific Gravity: 2.65
Streak: White
Associated Minerals: Numerous and varied but here are some of the more classic associations of quartz (although any list of associated minerals of quartz is only a partial list): amazonite a variety of microcline, tourmalines especially elbaite, wolframite, pyrite, rutile, zeolites, fluorite, calcite, gold, muscovite, topaz, beryl, hematite and spodumene.
Best Field Indicators: First the fact that it is very common (always assume transparent clear crystals may be quartz), crystal habit, hardness, striations, good conchoidal fracture and lack of good cleavage.
Educational Videos
Rose Quartz Cluster