Rose Quartz is also called Pink Quartz or Hyaline Quartz, from the Greek hyalos, meaning “glass,” and was referred to in antiquity as a Bohemian or Silesian Ruby. It was thought for years Rose Quartz, in rare cases, also formed in clusters of small prismatic crystals that were labeled as Crystalline Rose Quartz. However, mineralogists in the 1990’s discovered distinct differences between common Rose Quartz and the rare crystalline specimens, and proposed the massive form still be denoted as Rose Quartz, while the crystal variety should be referred to as Pink Quartz. It is a confusion that is slowly being resolved.
A silicon dioxide crystal, Rose Quartz is one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family. It is found in abundance around the world and occurs only in massive form, with no crystal faces, edges or terminations. It is hazy to translucent, and is usually found in the cores of granite pegmatites. Its name is derived from its soft rose color, which ranges from very pale pink to deep reddish-pink and is due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese in the massive material. It also contains microscopic fiber inclusions of rutile or a borosilicate similar to dumortierite that can occasionally produce a cat’s eye or “star” effect when polished into cabochons or spheres. It is sometimes called star rose quartz. The six-rayed star is caused by reflections of the light from embedded fibers that intersect at an angle of 60°. The star's position depends both on the location of the light source and the position of the observer.
The fair and lovely Rose Quartz, with its gentle pink essence, is a stone of the heart, a Crystal of Unconditional Love. It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a Divine loving energy throughout the entire aura. Reawakening the heart to its own innate love, it provides a deep sense of personal fulfillment and contentment, allowing one the capacity to truly give and receive love from others.