Rose Quartz
Other than Pink Quartz, which mostly comes in well-formed crystals, rose quartz is found as massive, often coarse aggregates and is mostly cut "en cabochon".
Origin of name: from its colour
Synonyms and trade names: none
Can be confused with: other pink stones like tourmaline, kunzite, morganite, topaz, spinel and sapphire
Localities: other than pink quartz rose qiartz is very common. Important sources are Brazil, Namibia, Madagascar, the USA and Australia.
Handling: rose quartz is not sensitive to light and heat.
Worth knowing: rosen quartz owes its colour to microscopic inclusions of a fibrous borosilicate mineral related to dumortierit, whih, in urn, owes its pink colour to inclusions of tiatanium and iron.
Gemmological Properties of Rose Quartz
Formula:
SiO2
Crystal system:
trigonal
Mohs hardness:
7 (reference stone)
Specific gravity:
2.65
Refractive index:
birefringent 1.543-1.554
Max. Birefringence:
0.009
Dispersion:
0.013
Pleochroism:
weak, pink and pale pink
Luminiscence:
none to very weak, SWUV pale blue, LWUV pink to pale orange
Lustre:
vitreous
Cleavage:
weak
Fracture:
conchoidal
Colour:
light pink to strong pink, orangish pink, brownish pink
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