Pink, rose, rose-red, red, cherry-red, yellow, yellowish grey, grey, cinnamon-brown, white, may be banded; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.
Crystal habit
Rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals; also commonly bladed, columnar, stalactitic, botryoidal, granular or massive
Twinning
On {1012} as contact and lamellar
Cleavage
On {1011} perfect; parting on {1012}
Fracture
Uneven, conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Mohs scale hardness
3.5–4
Lustre
Vitreous to pearly
Streak
White
Diaphaneity
Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity
3.7
Optical properties
Uniaxial (−)
Refractive index
nω = 1.814–1.816 nε = 1.596–1.598
Birefringence
δ = 0.218
Pleochroism
weak
Ultraviolet fluorescence
None
References
[2][3][4]
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its pure form (rare), it is typically a rose-red colour,[5] but it can also be shades of pink to pale brown. It streaks white,[6] and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4.5. Its specific gravity is between 3.45 and 3.6.[7] The crystal system of rhodochrosite is trigonal, with a structure and cleavage in the carbonate rhombohedral system. The carbonate ions (CO2− 3) are arranged in a triangular planar configuration, and the manganese ions (Mn2+) are surrounded by six oxygen ions in an octahedral arrangement. The MnO6 octahedra and CO3 triangles are linked together to form a three-dimensional structure. Crystal twinning is often present. It can be confused with the manganese silicate rhodonite, but is distinctly softer.[8] Rhodochrosite is formed by the oxidation of manganese ore, and is found in South Africa, China, and the Americas.[6] It is one of the national symbols of Argentina.
Rhodochrosite forms a complete solid solution series with iron carbonate (siderite). Calcium (as well as magnesium and zinc, to a limited extent) frequently substitutes for manganese in the structure, leading to lighter shades of red and pink, depending on the degree of substitution. This is the reason for the pink color of rhodochrosite.
^Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C., eds. (2003). "Rhodochrosite". Handbook of Mineralogy(PDF). Vol. V (Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates). Chantilly, VA, US: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 0962209740.
^Rhodochrosite. Mindat.org
^Rhodochrosite. Webmineral
^Deer, William Alexander (1998). Rock-forming Minerals: Non-Silicates. Vol. 5B. Geological Society of London. pp. 150–152. ISBN 9781897799901.
^ abCairncross, Bruce (2015). Understanding Minerals & Crystals. Penguin Random House South Africa. p. 180. ISBN 9781775843344.
^Ridgway, Robert Henderson (1933). Manganese: General Information. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. p. 3.
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its pure form (rare), it is typically a rose-red colour, but it can...
as well as in Bulgaria. Manganoan calcite is sometimes confused with rhodochrosite. The amount of manganese in manganoan calcite varies at different localities...
chloride (MnCl2). This oxidation state is also seen in the mineral rhodochrosite (manganese(II) carbonate). Manganese(II) commonly exists with a high...
Fossil Stegosaurus Stegosaurus armatus Gemstone Aquamarine Mineral Rhodochrosite Rock Yule Marble Ship USS Colorado (SSN-788) Sport Pack burro racing...
1873 as a silver mine. It is best known as the source of the famous rhodochrosite crystals "Alma King", displayed at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science...
valued at over $1 million, as well as specimens of the state mineral, rhodochrosite. Every September the Denver Mart, at 451 E. 58th Avenue, hosts a gem...
resulting in the siderite-smithsonite, siderite-magnesite, and siderite-rhodochrosite solid solution series. Siderite has Mohs hardness of 3.75 to 4.25, a...
Brine precipitate: Fe-montmorillonite, goethite, hematite, siderite, rhodochrosite, pyrite, sphalerite, anhydrite. The Red Sea is a rich and diverse ecosystem...
"rhodon" for "rose-like", in common with other pink mineral types (such as rhodochrosite, rhodonite). This coloration, and the commonly inclusion-free nature...
pink flamingoes in flight over Pocharam Lake in Andhra Pradesh, India. Rhodochrosite is one of the many pink gemstones. The color pink is named after the...
Zemann, J. (1981). "Crystal structure refinements of magnesite, calcite, rhodochrosite, siderite, smithonite, and dolomite, with discussion of some aspects...
limited solid solution series, with substitution of manganese leading to rhodochrosite, and with iron, leading to siderite. A variety rich in cadmium, which...
chalcopyrite, pyrite (and other sulfides), calcite, dolomite, quartz, rhodochrosite, and fluorite. German geologist Ernst Friedrich Glocker discovered sphalerite...
directions of cleavage are present, but not at 90°, such as in calcite or rhodochrosite, it is termed rhombohedral cleavage. Octahedral cleavage (four directions)...
occurs with acanthite, calcite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite, quartz, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, sphalerite and native tellurium. Sometimes it was found...
had a depth of 270 metres. Spathic (carbonate) iron ores containing rhodochrosite were used around 1870s to produce spiegeleisen, a historically important...
Sotheby's in London. The book is a leather bound manuscript decorated with rhodochrosite gemstones, and a silver skull. This copy features an author's note addressed...
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