Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is opaque to translucent macrocrystalline quartz of pink to rose-red color composed of silicon dioxide. It's index of refraction is 1.54-1.55 and it has a Hexagonal-Rhombohedral; 32 (trigonal-trapezohedral) crystal system. Quartz is the most abundant single mineral on earth. It makes up about 12% of the earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Rose quartz normally occurs in the cores of large pegmatites as solid masses of rose colored quartz whose individual crystals have poorly formed boundaries.
The color of rose quartz is still not completely understood. It has been said to be due to a number of different minor impurities present in the rose quartz including titanium, manganese and even colloidal gold. However, recent studies using micro-analytical methods have discovered that the color of massive rose quartz is actually due to microscopic mineral fibers in the rose quartz. X-ray diffraction tests on these microscopic fibers yielded patterns similar to the mineral dumortierite but slightly different, suggesting the possibility of a totally new and as yet unknown fibrous mineral causing the color in massive rose quartz.
Rose quartz has been used as a gemstone and for other ornamental and religous objects for thousands of years. Historically, it is a symbol of love and beauty, and thus the perfect stone for the month of February. The name quartz comes from the Saxon word querklufterz which meant cross vein ore. The astrological signs of rose quartz are Taurus and Libra.
Rose quartz balances the emotions, thus giving inner peace and harmony, It enhances sensitivity to beauty, art and music. This stone calms aggression and resentment while increasing self-esteem and self-confidence. It enhances one's compassion, patience and forgiveness and enhances your capacity to love others as well as yourself. Rose quartz helps treat depression, assists in weight loss, promotes a clear, soft complexion and prevents wrinkles. Rose quartz aids the proper functioning of the kidneys, adrenals, genitals, liver, lungs, heart, increases fertility and protects against radiation.
