Gem of the Heart
Rose quartz relates to the ‘heart chakra’, inviting compassion and gentle energy into everyday life. It therefore speaks to all kinds of love, from the first blush of romance to harmonious connections with family and friends. Interestingly, in ancient Egypt, rose quartz was revered for its anti-aging properties, being used in powder form to soften the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
From Powder to Pink
Quartz is one of the world’s most common minerals yet rose quartz belongs to the somewhat rarer colored variety of crystalline quartz. Pink shades arise from impurities in the crystal quartz – caused, for example, by iron or titanium. The more impurities present, the deeper the pink becomes.
On the Mohs scale of hardness, rose quartz is a 7, and therefore a durable gemstone for everyday wear.
Origin
Rose quartz is mainly found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and parts of the USA. Depending on climate and geological conditions, different rock formations lead to different gemstone colors. For example, rose quartz from Brazil is typically a far deeper pink than the powdery shades of Madagascar.
