Pink Corundum is a gem-quality variety of the corundum species, often graded as pink sapphire if the color saturation is lower than that required for ruby. It typically forms as prismatic, barrel-shaped crystals in metamorphic marble or alluvial gravel deposits. Look for strong vitreous luster, extreme hardness, and distinctive parting planes that differentiate it from other pink gemstones.
Is this pink corundum?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch pink corundum with a known reference. Pink Corundum sits at Mohs 9 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pink Corundum leaves a none streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pink Corundum typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, magenta.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: hexagonal prisms or bipyramidal crystals.
Often confused with
Pink Corundum vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pink corundum
Minerals reported to co-occur with pink corundum. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 9
- Density
- 4.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- None
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal Prisms or Bipyramidal Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Red Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- Marble, Basalt, Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 per carat depending on saturation and clarity
Where rockhounds find pink corundum
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Myanmar
- Sri Lanka
- Madagascar
- Tanzania
- Vietnam
Field-hunting tip
Look in marble, basalt, pegmatites country — that is the host setting where pink corundum typically forms. If you start seeing zircon, spinel, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a hexagonal prisms or bipyramidal crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Washington — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find pink corundum on the map
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