Etymology
This variety of quartz takes its name from the Latin word that refers to its color, let’s remember that pink quartz comes from the word “kristallos”, meaning ice.
Geological Origin
Pink quartz is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is a variety of quartz whose origin is varied, it crystallizes directly from magma from the pegmatite-pneumatolytic to the hydrothermal in low temperature. It is equally present in plutonic rocks (granite, granodiorite, tonalite) as well as in the hypabyssal rocks (porphyry, pegmatites).
The pink quartz color is due to the presence of manganese and titanium and to the electrical charges between Ti2 – Ti3. Thanks to the presence of thin needles of Rutile, it makes the formation of asterisms possible.
Pink Quartz Characteristics and Properties
| Mineral Type | Oxides IV Group |
|---|---|
|
Color |
Intense pink, pale pink |
|
Streak |
white |
|
Hardness |
7 Mohs |
|
Specific Gravity |
2.65 |
|
Cleavage |
None |
|
Fracture |
Conchoidal |
|
Crystal System |
Trigonal |
|
Habit |
Crowned hexagonal prisms in pyramids |
|
Chemical Formula |
SiO2 |
|
Optical Properties |
Uniaxial (+) |
|
Transparency |
Transparent, translucent |
|
Luster |
Vitreous |
|
Refractive Index |
1.544 – 1.553 |
|
Birefringence |
0.009 |
|
Dispersion |
0.013 (BG), 0.008 (CF) |
|
Pleochroism |
Week pink to pale pink |
|
Fluorescence |
Week, dark purple |
Pink Quartz False Names
Pink quartz can be confused with rhodonite and rhodochrosite when showing pale colors and a very low level of inclusions; it can also be confused with kunzite, morganite and topaz.
Deposits
Some of the main deposits are in countries like Brazil, India, Madagascar, United States, Kenya, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, but it is a mineral that is available in many more sites around the world, in Spain for example, in the Province of Caceres we can find examples of well-defined crystals.
Pink quartz is the gem of love and infinite peace, and gives emotional well-being, opening the heart to love and affection.
Uses
In crystal therapy it is recommended for anxious people, who have suffered violence episodes, who have trouble expressing themselves, and for shy people. It is the gem of love and infinite peace, it gives emotional well-being, opening the heart to love and affection, its use for self-development is considered compulsory.
