What is rose quartz
Rose quartz is pink and a type of hard crystal called quartz. It is found in large deposits underground and in rocks.
Rose quartz can be anything from very pale pink that looks almost white to a deep reddish-pink or even a purplish pink.
The crystal turns pink from minerals that get into the quartz when it forms. Titanium, iron, and manganese are the mineral impurities that turn clear quartz pink.
Here’s my full blog post on what, why, and how rose quartz gets its beautiful color.
Rose quartz meaning
Rose quartz is a calming and soothing crystal that encourages love, compassion, and forgiveness.
Some use rose quartz to attract positive relationships into their present and future, and others ask it to heal emotional wounds from their past.
No matter what it’s used for, if it’s charged and used with the right intentions, rose quartz has the power to open the heart chakra – our center of love and connection.
When this happens, we unlock many wonderful opportunities for ourselves and others!
Rose quartz has too many meanings and benefits for me to list here, so I wrote this full blog post about what it’s good for. Hop on over there if you want to find out more.
Other names for rose quartz
Rose quartz can also be called “hyaline quartz”. The word hyaline comes from the Greek word hyalinos, which means glassy or see-through (transparent). Rose quartz has a beautiful glassy shine and is translucent, so hyaline quartz is a good name for it.
Rose quartz is also affectionately called a “love stone” or “heart stone” because of its strong ties with love, emotions, and the heart chakra.
But rose quartz shouldn’t be called pink quartz, even though some people do. Here’s why …
Pink quartz vs rose quartz
The names pink quartz and rose quartz are often used interchangeably for quartz that’s pink, but researchers say that the names refer to different things.
You can read the explanation why on this page of the International Gem Society’s website, but I’ll rewrite it in a simpler way here:
The biggest difference between rose quartz and pink quartz is how they get their color.
Clear quartz is white or transparent and made of oxygen and silicon.
When minerals called impurities get trapped in clear quartz and turn it pink, it becomes rose quartz.
But when natural radiation allows aluminum or phosphorus to replace silicon in a clear quartz’s color center and it turns pink, then it’s called pink quartz.
There are some other differences between these crystals…
Pink quartz has a more regular and more defined crystal shape, and these crystals tend to be more transparent than rose quartz.
Pink quartz also loses its pink color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, but rose quartz doesn’t.
Most quartz that’s pink is rose quartz as pink quartz is rarer.
Price of rose quartz
The price of rose quartz depends on things like the quality of the crystal, its size and shape, its coloring and imperfections, and what other materials are used if it’s set in jewelry.
In general, smaller pieces of rough or tumbled rose quartz cost a few dollars, but larger or higher quality pieces cost tens, if not hundreds of dollars.
As an example, a small polished rose quartz crystal might cost around $5, while a high-quality piece of rose quartz jewelry could be $100.
Where to keep rose quartz
Some great places to keep rose quartz are on your body, in your bedroom, with keepsakes of lost loved ones, with baby clothes, and near doors and windows.
Click here to get all my ideas on where to keep your rose quartz and why.
Where rose quartz comes from
Rose quartz is actually quite a rare color in quartz, even though it’s found in many countries.
Brazil is one of the biggest producers of rose quartz, where very high-quality crystal deposits are found.
Madagascar also has a lot of high-quality rose quartz. Transparent rose quartz is found in Madagascar, which is rare because most crystals have a milky look to them. Some of these crystals even have Tyndall scattering, where they shine blue when the light hits them in just the right way.
Rose quartz also comes from South Africa, India, Japan, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Russia, and the United States, among others.
How to tell if rose quartz is real
All crystals can be measured on the Mohs scale to determine how hard or soft the crystal is.
Rose quartz is a 7 on the Mohs scale, which is quite high.
This gives us one easy way to tell if a rose quartz is real or not:
If the crystal cannot be scratched by steel (5.5 on the Mohs scale, so softer) but can be scratched with a masonry drill bit (8.5 on the Mohs scale, so harder), it’s likely to be real rose quartz.
Click here for a list of all the ways to tell if a rose quartz is real or not.
Who should wear rose quartz
While anyone can wear rose quartz, Taurus, Libra, and Pisces are believed to benefit most from this crystal due to their astrological properties.
Rose quartz is not a birthstone for any specific zodiac sign.
Click here for a list of all the zodiac signs that should wear rose quartz and why.
Sleeping with rose quartz
Some people keep a piece of rose quartz near their bed or under their pillow, to give them a sense of peace and relaxation. This helps them sleep longer and deeper at night.
How to energize rose quartz
There are many ways to cleanse and energize rose quartz.
Some of the best ways are to use what Mother Nature provides: soil, sunlight, water, and wind.
Simply place the rose quartz where one or more of these elements will come into contact with it, and let the elements remove old energy and bring in new power.
How to clean rose quartz
Clean rose quartz by washing it with warm, soapy water that’s made with liquid detergent.
Next, scrub it gently in circular motions with an old toothbrush or nailbrush, to take off dust and stubborn dirt.
Then rinse the rose quartz with clean water, and wipe it with a soft cloth to dry.
What it means when someone gives you rose quartz
Getting rose quartz as a gift can have several meanings.
But in a nutshell, a rose quartz gift is a symbol of love, great friendships, and positivity. So the person who gave you the gift could be telling you they are in love with you or that you are a dear friend to them, and they plan to be around for a long time.
