Rose quartz
Description
A pink Quartz used as a Gemstone and ornamental stone. Rose quartz has been mined or gathered since the early iron age (1200-500 BCE). It is found in the Ural Mountains, Czech Republic, Germany (Bavaria), Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Brazil (Minas Gerais), and the U.S.(South Dakota, California, Montana, South Dakota, Maine). Rose quartz ranges in color from a pale pink to a deep rose red. Transparent rose quartz is used as a gemstone while translucent varieties have been used for vases, ornaments and architectural elements. Some rose quartz may have needlelike inclusions of Rutile that induce a star-shaped chatoyancy.
Synonyms and Related Terms
quartz; Rosenquarz (Deut.); cuarzo rosa (Esp.); quartz rose (Fr.); quartzo roseo (Port.); Rosenquarz (Deut.); roze kwarts (Ned.)
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Trigonal crystal system
- Low thermal expansion
- Fracture = conchoidal
- Luster = vitreous to greasy
- Streak = white
- Fluorescence = inert to weak purple under SW
- Pleochroism = none
| Composition | SiO2 |
|---|---|
| Mohs Hardness | 7.0 |
| Density | 2.65 g/ml |
| Refractive Index | 1.544 - 1.553 |
| Birefringence | 0.009 |
Comparisons
Properties of Common Gemstones
Additional Images
Carved rose quartz
Rose quartz
Resources and Citations
- Mineralogy Database: Quartz
- Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
- A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "rose quartz." Accessed: 14 Sept. 2001 .
- C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_quartz (Accessed Sept. 14, 2005)
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p.647
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998