Strawberry Quartz: Physical & Optical Characteristics
SiO2 with red‑pink inclusions — clear rock crystal sprinkled with hematite/lepidocrocite “confetti” that reads like sunlight in berry tones 🍓✨
Names (trade): Strawberry Quartz, lepidocrocite‑in‑quartz, hematite‑flecked quartz. Not the same as: rose quartz (uniform pink), “cherry quartz” (glass), or “strawberry obsidian” (dyed glass).
💡 What Is Strawberry Quartz?
Strawberry quartz is natural rock crystal (SiO2) with a constellation of red‑to‑pink inclusions—most commonly hematite and/or lepidocrocite as tiny flakes, needles, or clouds. The host remains classic quartz (trigonal system), while the inclusions act like microscopic confetti that tint the stone from blush to berry. Some pieces also show a soft, glittery aventurescence when platelet‑style inclusions catch the light.
Fun line for product pages: “Rock crystal with a crush—tiny sun‑kissed berries suspended in glass.”
📏 Physical & Optical Specs — At a Glance
| Property | Host: Quartz (SiO2) | Inclusions (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral group | Silicate — tectosilicate | Hematite, lepidocrocite, goethite (Fe‑oxides/hydroxides) | The red/pink comes from these micro‑inclusions, not from the quartz lattice. |
| Crystal system | Trigonal (α‑quartz) | Varied habits (flakes/platelets, acicular threads, tiny specks) | Inclusion habit controls “confetti” vs. “sparkle” look. |
| Color / appearance | Colorless host; transparent → translucent | Red, pink, coppery, sometimes orange | Distribution: scattered specks, veils, starry clouds, or oriented layers. |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 7 | n/a | Durable for jewelry and handling. |
| Cleavage / fracture | No cleavage; conchoidal fracture | — | Avoid hard knocks; inclusions can act as stress concentrators. |
| Specific gravity (SG) | ~2.65 | Heavier inclusions can raise SG slightly | Usually feels “quartz normal” in hand. |
| Optical character | Uniaxial (+) | — | Host governs the bulk optical behavior. |
| Refractive indices | no ≈ 1.544 • ne ≈ 1.553 | — | Birefringence δ ≈ 0.009 (modest). |
| Pleochroism | None in the host | — | Any color shift comes from inclusion orientation, not true pleochroism. |
| Luster | Vitreous | Submetallic/pearly inside | Platelets can create sparkly “spangles” (aventurescence). |
| Fluorescence | Usually inert | Variable, weak at best | Not diagnostic for this variety. |
| Stability | Light/heat stable | — | Dyed imitations may fade; natural inclusions do not. |
🔬 Optical Behavior — why the “berry sparkles” happen
Quartz bends light modestly, keeping the host clear and airy. The color and fireworks come from the inclusions: platelet‑style hematite/lepidocrocite can act like tiny mirrors. When those plates are broadly aligned, they kick back concentrated flashes (the same physics behind aventurescence in aventurine quartz). Finer, more chaotic specks yield a soft pink “haze,” while thin needles or micro‑veils can add subtle directionality to the color. Under a loupe, look for scaly flakes, tabular hexagonal plates, or delicate acicular threads.
🎨 Color & Stability — where the pink comes from
- Cause of color: Microscopic iron oxides/hydroxides (hematite, lepidocrocite, goethite) dispersed in the quartz.
- Distribution: From light strawberry sugar speckling to dense jammy clouds. Oriented plates can create blushy bands.
- Stability: Natural inclusions are stable in light and normal temperatures. (Unlike celestine, strawberry quartz won’t sun‑fade.)
- Imitations: Trade names like “cherry quartz” and “strawberry obsidian” typically refer to glass. Uniform swirls, trapped bubbles, and lack of crystal growth features are clues.
🔷 Crystal Habit & Common Textures
Prismatic Points
Rock crystal prisms with internal pink “galaxies.” Inclusions may concentrate near the core or along growth zones (phantoms).
Cabochons & Slices
Polished domes emphasize the “confetti” and any spangling; thin slices reveal inclusion layering and phantom lines.
Tumbled Stones
Popular format; look for even, natural speckling rather than dye streaks or surface‑filled color.
Aventurescent “Sparkle”
Where plates align, tiny metallic flashes appear as you tilt — a strawberry twist on classic aventurine effects.
Associations: clear/smoky quartz, hematite, goethite, chlorite. Geologic settings include hydrothermal veins and metamorphic environments where Fe‑oxides crystallized before/with quartz.
🧭 Identification: quick tests & look‑alikes
Simple field checks
- Hardness: Mohs 7 — scratches ordinary glass.
- Luster: glassy faces; internal red flakes/specks with sharp edges under 10×.
- Cleavage: none; chips show smooth, conchoidal shells.
- Weight: feels like typical quartz (SG ~2.65).
Strawberry vs. Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is uniformly pink and often slightly cloudy with fibrous inclusions; it lacks discrete red specks. Strawberry quartz looks sprinkled or spangled.
Strawberry vs. Hematoid Quartz
Hematoid (fire) quartz shows clouds/veils of iron oxide (often orange‑red) rather than crisp, discrete specks or plates.
Beware: Glass Imitations
“Cherry quartz” / “strawberry obsidian” are usually glass. Look for swirly, uniform color, gas bubbles, and absence of natural growth features. Glass is softer and often lighter in hand.
🧼 Care, Display & Shipping
- Cleaning: Lukewarm water + drop of mild soap; soft brush; rinse and pat dry. Avoid ultrasonic/steam if fractures are present.
- Chemicals: Quartz tolerates normal household exposure; avoid harsh acids/alkalis that could dull micro‑fractures or inclusion edges.
- Light: Stable under sunlight and cool LEDs. Side‑lighting reveals any sparkle.
- Handling: Mohs 7 is durable, but inclusions can localize stress — don’t drop it (the floor always rolls a natural 20).
- Shipping: Padding around and between points; immobilize completely; label as Fragile — Inclusions.
Care analogy: treat it like a clear jar of strawberry sugar — beautiful, sturdy, but please don’t shake it off a shelf. 😉
📸 Photographing Strawberry Quartz (bring out the berry)
- Lighting: Diffuse key light from the side; add a subtle rim light to outline crystal edges. This makes platelets “wink.”
- Backgrounds: Mid‑gray for pale pieces, charcoal for saturated ones, white for catalog consistency. Avoid bright reds (they steal the spotlight).
- Polarizer: A CPL tames glare on polished faces while preserving internal sparkle.
- Focus: Stop down (f/8–f/16) or focus‑stack; aim at the densest inclusion plane.
- Angles: Rotate for both the overall tint and micro‑sparkles; include 1 macro shot to show natural flecks/plates.
🧾 Creative Product Names (non‑repeating & shop‑friendly)
Pair a berry word (strawberry, blush, rosehip, sunset) with a texture word (confetti, sparkle, lattice, sugar, stitch) and a shape tag (cab, point, sphere, palm, slice):
- Blush‑Confetti Prism
- Rosehip Sparkle Cab
- Sunset Sugar Sphere
- Berry‑Stitch Tower
- Strawberry Lattice Slice
- Jam‑Twinkle Palm Stone
- Rosette Glow Point
- Hearth‑Berry Window
- Scarlet Spritz Cabochon
- Blossom‑Flake Reliquary
- Honey‑Rose Halo
- Blushfire Keepsake
❓ FAQ
Is strawberry quartz a different mineral from quartz?
No. It’s quartz with pink/red inclusions. The species is still SiO2—the inclusions supply the color and sparkle.
Does the color fade?
Natural inclusion color is light‑stable under normal conditions. If a piece fades or bleeds color in alcohol/acetone, it was likely dyed or surface‑treated.
How do I tell it from glass?
Look for natural crystal features (growth lines, conchoidal chips with shell‑like ripples) and crisp internal flakes/plates. Glass shows bubble trails and swirled, uniform color.
Is it good for daily wear?
Yes—quartz is Mohs 7 and durable. Avoid hard knocks and store separately from harder gems (sapphire/diamond) to prevent scratches.
✨ The Takeaway
Strawberry quartz is classic rock crystal with a joyful twist: iron‑rich micro‑inclusions that scatter rosy light and sometimes throw sparkles as you tilt it. Physically it’s quartz through and through (Mohs 7, uniaxial(+), n≈1.544–1.553), but visually it reads like a celebration—confetti suspended in glass. Grade by clarity and pattern, light it from the side, and let the berry tones do the talking.
Lighthearted wink: It’s quartz that said, “I’ll wear a little blush, thanks.” 😄