Originally published at Churchpop

I grew up saying family rosaries and am named after the roses at Our Blessed Mother’s feet, something I hold incredibly dear. 

I had no idea, though, even with a wonderful Catholic upbringing, about all of the natural things right around us named in her honor.

My geologist husband excitedly told me about a unique discovery in the rock and mineral world called “La Madona Rosa.”

“La Madona Rosa,” or “The Pink Madonna” is a beautiful combination of rose quartz bordering smoky quartz that looks strikingly similar to Our Lady of Guadalupe – can you see it?   Left image: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Public Domain / Right image: ‘La Madona Rosa,’ Heritage Auctions / HA.com (used with permission)The Story of “La Madona Rosa,” or “The Pink Madonna”

It was the late 1950s and some miners from a small mine called “Sapucaia” in Brazil discovered a miraculous pocket of Rose Quartz that was 16 feet in length, only six inches wide, and 12 inches high. Inside this pocket, the miners found a smaller but spectacular formation. 

Pink Rose Quartz crystals bordered smoky quartz crystals in a way that had never been seen before or since!

Heritage Auctions describes the one-of-a-kind geode rock on its website“The smoky Quartz

Read more...