Home >> Science & Nature >> Rocks & Minerals

What Is Pink Quartz?

Pink quartz is a type of naturally occurring crystal first discovered in Maine in the late 1930's, later popularized by a rediscovery in Brazil in 1959. Two types of quartz, rose and pink, are similar enough that most people do not make a distinction between them, though geologists claim there are significant differences.

Coloration
- Pink quartz is highly light sensitive and pales when exposed to sunlight. The coloration of pink quartz, which ranges from light pink to nearly translucent, is derived from aluminum and phosphorous.
Growth
- This type of crystal often forms in parallel structure, often on top of another type of crystal called smoky crystal. Pink quartz requires hydrothermic conditions, heat, and moisture to grow.
Pink Quartz vs. Rose Quartz
- A 2001 publication by Hidemichi Hori and another by Rykart in1995 demonstrate that pink quartz is a different crystal than rose quartz, which is much more common. However, because they are both pink in color, the two names are often used interchangeably. The type of pink crystal used in jewelry is technically rose quartz, not pink quartz.

Rocks & Minerals