
Pink or peach-coloured quartz is called rose quartz, and is mainly used in decorative carvings. Its colour is thought to be due to the presence of small amounts of titanium. Crystals of rose quarta are very rare; more usually, massive lumps are found, which can be carved, or cut “en cabochon” or as beads. Transparent material is uncommon; it is usually cloudy or cracked, partly because it is so brittle. Rutile inclusions in rose quartz may produce a star effect when the stone is cut “en cabochon”.
Rose quartz is found in pegmatites. The best material is from Madagascar, but Brazil produces a greater quantity. Other sites are Scotland, the former USSR, Colorado (USA) and Spain.
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