Quartz (macrocrystalline)
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz owes its pink to microscopic fibrous inclusions of a borosilicate mineral distributed through the quartz, not to a dissolved colouring agent. Those inclusions also scatter light, which is why the stone reads as translucent and milky rather than glassy-clear.
- Mineral family
Quartz (macrocrystalline)
- Typical colours
Soft pink, from barely tinted to a dusty rose
- Hardness (Mohs)
7
- Luster
Vitreous, often slightly milky
- Texture
Cloudy rather than clear, with a gentle glow just under the polish and faint pale streaks running through the body.
Caring for it
Hard-wearing, but strong sunlight over months will pale the pink. Rinse in cool water, dry with a soft cloth, remove before swimming in chlorinated water, and store away from harder stones that could scratch the polish.