Rhodochrosite
Carbonate · MnCO₃
Rhodochrosite is a rose-pink manganese carbonate, loved for its banded stalactitic slices and, rarely, gem-quality red crystals.
What is rhodochrosite?
Rhodochrosite is manganese carbonate, celebrated for its raspberry-pink colour. It occurs as banded pink-and-white stalactitic masses (often sliced to show the rings) and, in rare cases, as vivid transparent red rhombohedral crystals that are among the most coveted collector minerals.
Properties
- Chemical formula
- MnCO₃
- Category
- Carbonate
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Lustre
- Vitreous to pearly
- Streak
- White
- Colour
- Rose-pink to red, often banded
- Cleavage / fracture
- Perfect rhombohedral
How to identify rhodochrosite
- →Rose-pink to red, frequently with white banding.
- →Perfect rhombohedral cleavage.
- →Hardness 3.5–4; white streak.
- →Fizzes in warm dilute acid.
Where rhodochrosite is found
Banded material comes from Argentina; superb red crystals from the Sweet Home Mine (Colorado, USA) and N’Chwaning (South Africa).
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