Rose Quartz

History
Rose quartz, though it has been around as long as amethyst and citrine, had not been recognized as a gemstone until the Renaissance, as it is seldom transparent, but tends to form in translucent and opaque crystals and masses. It was used in South America over the ages for carving figurines, bowls and other objects.

Features
Rose quartz seldom forms well defined crystals, but more often occurs in a large mass. Occasionally it is pale pink and transparent, or nearly so, but more often it is translucent or opaque, ranging in color from a deep rosy pink to nearly white. Occasionally rose quartz will come in a star variety, this star being visible when fine translucent material is lit from behind.

Treatments
Pale material may be dyed to improve color.

Principal Deposits
Rose quartz occurs in South America, Africa and North America.

Rarity
Rose quartz is less common than other varieties of quartz, however it is still available, heavily included, in sufficient quantities to make many beautiful commercial pieces.