Cutting rhodochrosite is a difficult job because the material has perfect cleavage, and it is so soft that it can be difficult to polish. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral that ranges in color from light pink to bright red. credit: Yasu Okazaki Its name comes from the Greek words for pink and color, named because most of this stone comes in one of the shades of pink. Rhodochrosite (whose name means rose-colored) often forms pink and white bands. Good deposits have been found in Argentina, but it also comes from Uruguay, Russia, South Africa and the USA. Magnesium, iron, and calcium are generally partially substituted for manganese, pure rhodochrosite being relatively rare; rhodochrosite forms a partial solid-solution (chemical substitution) series with calcite and with siderite in which calcium and iron, respectively, replace manganese in the crystal structure. Miners usually remove the rhodochrosite from the wall rock of these veins and cut it into thin slabs with a diamond saw. Rhodochrosite (whose name means rose-colored) often forms pink and white bands. They are made from powdered mineral matter, in pink and white colors, and bound together with resin. In case you don't know, here is a warning: Gem-quality rhodochrosite is extremely valuable as a mineral specimen, so if you find nice transparent crystals, that nice piece of faceting rough might be worth six months' pay if sold to the right mineral collector. Calcite Group. It is commonly found in the form of stalactites and stalagmites in the caves of Argentina. For detailed physical properties, see carbonate mineral (table). It streaks white, and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4. Rhodochrosite for lapidary and mineral specimen use is only found in a few locations worldwide. The powders are layered and swirled together to produce a banded appearance similar to much natural rhodochrosite. Photo by Bradley Payne, TheGemTrader.com. These include Argentina, South Africa, Peru, Montana, Colorado, Russia, Romania, Spain, China, Gabon, Mexico, and Japan. Each layer can be a unique precipitation event and produce material with a slightly different pink color. The Sweet Home Mine in Alma was originally a silver mine back in the late 1800s where the raw rhodochrosite was disposed of at the time. The rare transparent material that is not suitable as a mineral specimen is sometimes faceted into attractive pink and red gems. Its pink color, perfect cleavage in three directions, low hardness, and weak effervescence with cold dilute hydrochloric acid are rarely seen in other minerals. Some of the best examples of this form of rhodochrosite are found at the Capillitas and Catamarca deposits in Argentina. Rhodochrosite is rarely found as well-form… Being a spiritual healer, Rhodochrosite is considered as a linking driving force between wearer’s soul and heavenly bodies. It is commonly found in the form of stalactites and stalagmites in the caves of Argentina. It is found in Argentina, Peru, Colorado and Montana, U.S, and Quebec, Canada. Superb Rhodochrosite Crystals: Crystals of transparent red rhodochrosite on tetrahedrite with a few clear quartz crystals. Colorado Rhodochrosite: Rhodochrosite is the official state mineral of Colorado. A classic European locality for Rhodochrosite is the Wolf Mine in Herdorf, Siegerland, Germany, where Rhodochrosite formed in botryoidal aggregatess and in long, pointed, terminated crystals. SG: 1.99, H: < 3, RI: 1.55, no birefringence blink. Round depressions in the polished surface appear to be bubbles. Rhodochrosite Meaning. Good deposits have been found in Argentina, but it also comes from Uruguay, Russia, South Africa and the USA. Unusual Shape and color of Rhodochrosite from Moanda Mine, Gabon. Rhodochrosite is rarely found as well-formed crystals, so crystals can be extremely valuable as mineral specimens. These formations are often removed and slabbed to produce material with concentric pink banding. Rhodochrosite: Rhodochrosite cabochons illustrating the banded pink colors that are characteristic of this mineral. Excellent, small, hand-size specimens currently sell for five-digit numbers. The beautiful stones produced are mainly for collectors because faceted rhodochrosite is too fragile for almost any jewelry use. Real rhodochrosite crystals are only found in one location in a mine in Colorado. The rosy hues of medium and pale pink which are most common are the result of calcium substituting in varying amounts for manganese. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. This gives character to the material for lapidary use. Synthetics. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... A sample of rhodochrosite, trigonal manganese carbonate, from N'Chwaning Mine in Kuruman, Northern Cape province, S.Af. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO 3.In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color, but impure specimens can be shades of pink to pale brown. Then, as the popularity of mineral collecting increased, the well-formed crystals found at the Sweet Home Mine became many times more valuable than the lapidary material. The most common confusion is between the names "rhodochrosite" and "rhodonite" -- both are pink, manganese-rich minerals with very similar names that people have a hard time remembering. Updates? Originally opened as a silver mine in 1873, the rhodochrosite was disregarded at that time. As mentioned previously, rhodochrosite can be found in variegated hues of pink, red, white, gray, brown, and vermillion. Commonly occurs as a primary gangue mineral in moderate- to low-temperature hydrothermal veins, also in high-temperature metasomatic deposits and sedimentary manganese deposits or as a late stage hydrothermal mineral in pegmatites, especially lithiophilite-bearing ones. Cold hydrochloric acid produces a weak effervescence that is strongest on the white bands. Rhodochrosite, mineral, composed of manganese carbonate (MnCO 3 ), that is a source of manganese for the ferromanganese alloys used in steel production. Perfect, rhombohedral, in three directions, Pink color, cleavage, hardness, effervescence in cold dilute hydrochloric acid, Ore of manganese, gemstone, ornamental stone. Mined since Incan times, the polymetallic sulphide veins at the Capillitas Mine were worked in the 17th century for silver, and later for lead and zinc. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.com Store. It has a nice orangish pink color, measures 6.7 x 6.2 millimeters and weighs 1.52 carats. This faceted cushion was cut from material obtained from the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado. Where Is It From? Raw rhodochrosite is found in just a few locations worldwide: Argentina, South Africa, Peru, Romania, Japan, Mexico, and Russia. It is often slabbed to show off its banded or concentric patterns. Rhodochrosite is known for its inspiring qualities while meditation. Rhodochrosite Meaning. In the spiritual realm, Rhodochrosite is known to ease the issues of past lives, and finds out the solution for it. Rhodochrosite has a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 and has perfect cleavage in three directions. Rhodochrosite is generally easy to identify and is rarely confused with other minerals. In these deposits, the rhodochrosite accumulates in layers on the walls of the cavity and may form stalactites and stalagmites on the roof and floor of the cavity - just like speleothems in a cavern. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/science/rhodochrosite, Amethyst Galleries - The Mineral Rhodochrosite. The formation of rhodochrosite usually occurs in fractures and cavities of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. In metamorphic rocks, rhodochrosite is found as a vein and fracture-filling mineral where it precipitates from ascending hydrothermal solutions. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. At a glance, their appearance is quite similar to that of natural rhodochrosite.
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