About Rose Quartz

Rose quartz, which is considered a semi-precious gemstone, is used as an ornamental stone, made into cabochons, and carved into spheres, pyramids, beads, hearts, and other figures. It's also a popular stone for tumbling. Although it 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. Brazil is the only source of true, well-formed crystals of rose quartz.

All rose quartz was formerly believed to be only massive, found primarily in the cores of pegmatites. This lack of crystals is somewhat of a curiosity, because quartz crystallizes into well formed crystals in all its other macroscopic varieties, such as citrine, amethyst, and smoky quartz. So amazing are the rose quartz crystals that the first ones discovered were dismissed as fakes by mineralogists from around the world!

Rose quartz is considered to be a symbol of love and beauty. Metaphysically, it helps to open the heart chakra and balance the emotions, thus giving inner peace and harmony. It is said to be the stone of unconditional love, opening the heart to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love. Rose quartz also is used as a protective stone for pregnant or birthing mothers. Physically, rose quartz is used in crystal healing to treat the heart, the circulatory system, fertility, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, depression, addictions, spleen problems, and fibromyalgia. It is also believed to help control weight loss, slow signs of aging, and reduce wrinkles, giving a clear soft complexion.

The astrological signs of rose quartz are Taurus and Libra.

Mineralogical Properties:

Rose Quartz: SiO2, Silicon Dioxide
Mohs scale hardness: 7
Luster: Vitreous
Class: Tectosilicate
Color: Pale-pink to rose-red
Transparency: Opaque to translucent, rarely transparent
Fracture: Conchoidal
Crystal system: Hexagonal-Rhombohedral; 32 (trigonal-trapezohedral)
Crystal habit: Usually massive with occasional contact crystal faces, occurs rarely as small horizontally striated hexagonal prisms terminated by a combination of positive and negative rhombohedrons forming six sided pyramids.
Specific gravity: 2.65
Index of refraction: 1.54-1.55
Cleavage: None
Streak: White