Rose Quartz
Global Mining Sites
This crystal is very common and is found in many countries around the world, specifically in igneous locations. Rose Quartz is one of the most common varieties in the quartz family and is primarily found in Brazil, India, Madagascar and USA.
History
A symbol for love and beauty, this stone has been used for thousands of years. Ancient Romans used the stone as a seal to signify ownership. The Egyptians left healing Rose Quartz masks in the tombs of their Pharaohs so that they would maintain their beauty.
It was also known as the crystal of Venus (the goddess of love and beauty). The colour of Rose Quartz is explained in one Greek legend. Aphrodite fought Ares to protect her lover Adonis from dying. Upon leaping forwards, she fell into a sharp briar bush. As her and her lover lay wounded, their blood poured out and stained the white quartz pink.
Appearance
Rose Quartz usually forms in the cores of granite and has a cloudy to translucent appearance. It is commonly found as large specimens with no crystal edges. Crystallised clusters of this stone are very rare.
This stone is usually soft in colour, ranging from light pale pink to a deep hot pink (which can have reddish hues) which is due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, and manganese. The colour is very stable and will not fade with heat or direct sunlight.