Shine On: Photos of Dazzling Mineral Specimens
News
published
La Madona Rosa
"La Madona Rosa," a rose quartz specimen from Brazil, gets its name from a supposed resemblance to the Virgin Mary. Mary's body is formed out of smoky quartz with a halo of pink rose quartz outlining her. This sparkling beauty stands 15.5 inches (39 cm) tall, taller than other known rose quartz specimens. Quarz is made from silica, and titanium, manganese or iron lend rose quartz its pink hue. Smoky quartz's color comes from free silicon in the mineral. The starting bid for La Madona Rosa is $100,000.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.
More about geology
Most Popular
LATEST ARTICLES