You’ll leave a streak on either stone, but they’re very different. Grab a knife, then try and scratch the rock. Most of the tests available to a hobbyist rockhound will quickly tell you which of these stones you’ve got. How To Tell the Difference Between Rose Quartz and Pink Calcite Telling the difference between them is an easy matter. You’ll only ever confuse these minerals if you rely only on sight. Crystal shape usually matters little in the formation of massive minerals, they generally end up with a similar blocky appearance due to the different growing crystals. Both pink calcite and rose quartz are most often seen in a complex intergrowth of crystals, which we call massive. The other place where they’re similar is in their crystal formation. They don’t even have the same coloring agents despite the similarity in coloration. The similar appearance is the closest they get together. These stones are both pink, of course, and have a similar appearance. So we have a hard, pink mineral that generally occurs in massive form. It’s similar to the way that amethyst is colored, where the elements actually end up in the crystal. Aluminum, titanium, and manganese have all been found in varying levels in samples of rose quartz. Rose quartz is colored by inclusions of different minerals in its crystalline lattice. Quartz is silica, or SiO₂, a common mineral found across the entire planet. Quartz is the mineral that defines 7.0 on the Moh’s scale, although some massive pieces may be slightly softer. Like all quartz, rose quartz is very hard. This is particularly the case with material from South Dakota, which is one of the best places to find this mineral in the world. Asterism is the star that’s sometimes seen in sapphire and ruby cabochons, where included rutile creates an optical effect similar to a six-rayed star. Massive rose quartz sometimes displays asterism. Rose quartz is found on rare occasions as single crystals, but those with good color, clarity, and lack of heavy inclusions are even rarer and can fetch high prices. The interlocking quartz crystals end up creating a system that looks quite similar to pink calcite. Instead, virtually all rose quartz is massive in nature. Namely, the normal quartz crystalline form of hexagonal crystals with a pyramidal termination are almost never present. It’s quite a bit different from the normal crystals we expect to find from quartz and even some variations such as citrine and amethyst. Rose Quartz is a light to deep pink variation of quartz. Pink calcite tends to be massive and is colored by manganese minerals. Put together, we’ve got a soft, beautiful mineral that’s highly variable in crystal shape. It doesn’t have anything to do with size. That just means that it’s comprised of interlocking crystal systems that create a single solid mass rather than individual crystals. Pink calcite is often massive, rather than in well-formed singular crystals. While it’s very soft it also takes a nice polish and the lack of hardness makes it quick and easy to work.Ĭalcite’s simple nature means that it’s found very often, but pink stuff only comes from certain localities. It’s a favorite of carvers, especially for decorative objects that aren’t meant to be worn. Pink CalciteĬalcite is a soft mineral, sitting at 3 on the Moh’s scale of hardness. This has made it a favorite for many collectors since it’s common, varied, and relatively cheap compared to more exotic minerals. You could fill a cabinet with just the different forms of calcite before you even get into the many colors it comes in. The coloring agent is caused by tiny inclusions of manganese minerals which give it a nice shade of pink when spread throughout the crystals.Ĭalcite itself is known for occurring in many different crystalline forms. Blue and pink calcite are both readily available in bulk, being among the most common colors of the mineral. It’s one of the many forms of the chemical calcium carbonate, which exists along a spectrum that also includes aragonite and dolomite.Ĭalcite is naturally colorless, but it’s found in many shades. What is Pink Calcite? Pink CalciteĬalcite is one of the most common minerals to find, especially in crystalline form. So, let’s take a closer look at the properties of pink calcite versus rose quartz, and then I’ll help you scratch the surface of figuring out which is which. There are some serious differences that are easy to check if you’re trying to determine which you’ve got in hand. For new rockhounds, especially those still relying only on sight, the difference between pink calcite and rose quartz isn’t immediately obvious.
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