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Rose Quartz: Two varieties of quartz are called "rose quartz". One is found in translucent masses made of intergrown anhedral crystals. It is always showing a hazy to translucent character due to microscopic fibrous inclusions of a pink borosilicate mineral related to dumortierite. (source: mindat.org) (Photo Copyright © Wentzell Revocable Gem Trust; used with permission ) The other variety occurs in well-formed crystals of similar color. They are found as a late formation in pegmatite pockets, often overgrowing smoky quartz crystals in groups of parallel-grown crystals. The color is apparently caused by irradiation induced color centers based on aluminum, Al, and phosphorous, P, that replace Silicon, Si, in the atom lattice. (source: mindat.org) The piece shown below, of the second type, is a famously-valuable piece called "La Madona Rosa." Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions Return to List Back to Michael's Hobbies page Back to Michael Marcotte's HomePage