Pink sapphire is a gem-quality variety of corundum colored by trace amounts of chromium. It occurs as hexagonal prisms or barrel-shaped crystals and is highly prized for its exceptional hardness and vibrant, saturated pink hues.
Is this pink sapphire?
4-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 sapphire with a known reference. Pink Sapphire sits at Mohs 9, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, hexagonal barrels.
Often confused with
Pink Sapphire vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pink Sapphire is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 7-7.5).
How to tell apart: Pink Sapphire is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 7.5-8).
How to tell apart: Pink Sapphire is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 8).
Often found alongside pink sapphire
Minerals reported to co-occur with pink sapphire. 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
- 3.98-4.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals, hexagonal barrels
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Red to orange under LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- metamorphic marbles, pegmatites, and alluvial deposits
Where rockhounds find pink sapphire
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Sri Lanka
- Madagascar
- Myanmar
- Tanzania
- Vietnam
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: metamorphic marbles, pegmatites, and alluvial deposits. If you start seeing zircon, spinel, kyanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, hexagonal barrels. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Carolina, Georgia. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify pink sapphire?+
Where is pink sapphire found?+
Can I find pink sapphire in the United States?+
What rocks look like pink sapphire?+
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Find pink sapphire on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
