A few weeks ago, I started a “minerals” series by talking about amethyst. This week we have another incredibly popular stone–rose quartz!
Like amethyst, rose quartz is actually a variety of quartz (big surprise there, right?), and as such, it’s very durable. Generally, rose quartz is translucent, given its pink color by tiny pieces of dumortierite inside the stone. It’s very common, found all over the world–and therefore, it’s been included in jewelry for thousands of years.
Rose quartz beads have been dated back as far as 7000 BC, in Mesopotamia. Through the years, the stone has been associated with many things: for example, ancient Egyptians thought rose quartz brought long life, while the ancient Romans used it to signify ownership. The ancient Greeks had a few different myths attached to it: according to one, in a battle with the jealous Ares, blood from unfortunate lovers Aphrodite and Adonis spilled on clear quartz and created that pink hue.
Today, many people associate rose quartz with love (and if the stone has been cut to resemble a heart, so much the better). It’s regarded as a subtly healing stone and one which can attract romance–but also promote self-love and acceptance. And really, who doesn’t need more of that?
Selected Sources
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic. 2nd edition. Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2020.
King, Hobart M. “Rose Quartz: A pink-color variety of the mineral quartz.” Geology.com. https://geology.com/gemstones/rose-quartz/.
“Rose Quartz.” Energy Muse. https://www.energymuse.com/rose-quartz-meaning.
“Rose Quartz History and Lore.” Gemological Institute of America. https://www.gia.edu/rose-quartz-history-lore.
