Strawberry quartz is a microcrystalline variety of the mineral quartz, a very common mineral found world wide. It makes up about 12% of the earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

 Strawberry quartz correctly refers to a rare and beautiful (when polished) variety of natural quartz crystals. The color is due to tiny red hair-like inclusions of hematite, the crystals of strawberry quartz glitter and shine as the material is turned under a light. It is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone.

Characteristics:

Chemistry: SiO2
Hardness (Mohs scale): 7
Density:  2.65
Refractive index: 1.544 - 1.553
Dispersion: 0.013
Crystal system: trigonal – trapezohedral
Cleavage: none
Fracture: conchoidal