How to identify real rose quartz

One of the rarest colored varieties of quartz is pink stone. Today it is used as an ornamental material, and the largest and cleanest specimens attract the attention of collectors. Although the mineral has a low cost, synthetic samples are found on the market. Sometimes it is difficult for the buyer to detect signs of falsification, but experts have developed simple and clear recommendations on how to distinguish rose quartz from a fake.

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Briefly about the history of finding rose quartz

The most ancient piece of jewelry with processed pink stones are beads found on the territory of modern Iraq. The artifact is considered a remnant of prehistoric Mesopotamian culture and dates back to the 7th century BC. BC.

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Perhaps the Assyrians were the next to start using the mineral in jewelry. Finds from the era of prosperity of the Semitic people testify to the high skill of artisans in processing rose-type quartz. Modern researchers believe that thanks to the skillful skills of Assyrian jewelers, the stone became highly valued by the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. In the culture of these peoples, the crushed mineral began to be added to cosmetics: it helped to rejuvenate the skin.

In the Middle Ages, quartz was used to prepare healing compounds: it was believed that it was effective in the treatment of nervous disorders.

Amulets were made from it, designed to bestow love and inner harmony.

Today, mineral powder is used as a cosmetic additive to enhance the softening effect. Jewelry and souvenirs are also made from natural stone.

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How the mineral is mined

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The pink variety of quartz is found mainly in pegmatites - rocks of igneous origin. Often found in hydrothermal veins.

To expose mineral layers, the top layers of soil are removed using earthmoving machines. Explosives are rarely used, because. the structure of the material is damaged by a sudden change in temperature. Quartz cores and fragments are easily identified in the structure of the exposed rock: they look like transparent or translucent glass.

The stone can be found all over the world, but the largest deposits are located in Madagascar, India, the USA and Brazil. In Russia, mining is carried out on the territory of Karelia and Altai.

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Causes of an unusual color and its variations

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Pink shades of the gem are usually associated with the presence of titanium, iron and manganese in the material. However, recent diffraction studies have shown that the specific coloration is caused mainly by inclusions of fine fibers of dumortierite - aluminum borosilicate.

It is less common, characterized by increased transparency. Its color is due to the presence of aluminum and phosphates in the structure.

Detailed description of the appearance of natural quartz

The mineral is unusually beautiful: it has delicate muted shades and a diverse structure. Each copy is unique and endowed with individuality.

stone texture

Unlike other types of quartz, the pink type has a hexagonal macrocrystalline structure, which makes it look like a stone with a heterogeneous composition. It is fragile, so there are many chips and cracks on its surface and inside. Most of the samples contain inclusions of foreign substances.

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Pattern

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On some stones, when cut with the formation of a convex curvilinear surface, a white 6-ray star appears. The observed phenomenon is called asterism.

An unusual pattern is formed as a result of the reflection of light from multidirectional groups of mineral fibers intersecting at an angle of 60 °. In this case, the location of the pattern depends on the location of the illuminator and the observer.

Transparency to light

In nature, translucent, slightly cloudy samples are mainly found. Their structure often contains opaque inclusions of foreign impurities. The greatest transparency is typical for some Madagascar and Brazilian specimens.

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Mineral fading

The material tends to lose its original color when heated above 300°C and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. In conditions of high humidity, the fading process is accelerated.

Ways to distinguish natural rose quartz from a fake

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The level of development of modern technologies makes it easy to obtain synthetic quartz in the laboratory. Although the market is predominantly natural material, to make a safe purchase it is worth learning how to distinguish a fake from the original.

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Visual inspection through the light

Natural stone has a heterogeneous color, which is clearly visible when viewed through the light. It is translucent and slightly cloudy; there are many small cracks and inclusions of various impurities on the surface and inside the structure of the sample. On the contrary, the artificial material is colored evenly and has a smooth surface.

Sometimes unscrupulous sellers imitate chips and scratches, but these damages are visible only from the outside and have straight lines.

Test of strength

According to the Mohs scale, the hardness of the mineral is 7 points, and the indicator for glass is 5.5 units. This means that with the help of natural stone it is possible to leave a scratch on the surface of any glass object without much effort.

Low thermal conductivity

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Quartz is slightly cold to the touch. In the hand, it slowly heats up due to the high thermal inertia, which gives the natural material the ability to resist temperature changes. If you take a product made of natural stone, it will remain cold for 7-10 minutes. The artificial sample will heat up after 2-3 minutes.

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Weight of natural quartz

Translucent gems are heavy, so it's easy to spot a fake. A product made from a real mineral should be heavier than a piece of plastic or glass of a similar size.

Other signs

The following signs also testify to the synthetic origin of the sample:

• unnatural bright pink color;
• the presence of through holes;
• loud sound when hitting a hard surface.

You can determine the authenticity of a copy using laboratory equipment: analyze for the presence of impurities, establish the nature of the refraction of transmitted light, and measure hardness.

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Properties of Natural Rose Quartz

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In the cultures of different peoples, the pink variety of quartz served as a symbol of harmony and love. Many people believed that the gem helps in strengthening resolve and healing the heart. And if you store a stone among amethysts, it will greatly enhance its abilities.

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Today, the mineral has found application in energy medicine and massage therapy. It is believed to have the following medicinal properties:

• restores the nervous system;
• stabilizes blood pressure;
• helps to normalize the functioning of the kidneys;
• activates the endocrine glands;
• improves immunity;
• slows down the aging process.

Although scientific studies do not support the described properties, many continue to use the stone for additional healing purposes.

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Features of caring for natural quartz

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This mineral is both hard and brittle. It is suitable for making most jewelry, but requires careful handling and storage. To keep stone products beautiful, you should follow a few rules:

• protect the gem from impacts to avoid chips and scratches;
• keep away from sunlight to prevent or slow down fading;
• wash off dirt with a soapy water solution;
• Do not use ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners for cleaning.

The cost of real rose quartz products

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Products made of rose quartz are rare on sale, but their cost is low. The minimum carat price is about $5, but it can increase by 10-15 times depending on the quality characteristics of the natural material: rarity of shades, transparency, structure, size. Weight is not fundamental to pricing, as mineral density varies greatly.

The cost of jewelry depends on the material of the frame and the manufacturer.

Product type	Starting price, rub.
Bracelet	500
Pendant	500
Ring	600
beads	1000
Earrings	1000
Necklace	30000

In practice, cut gemstones are valued lower than settings. For example, items in gold become at least 10 times more expensive.

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