Mineralpedia Details for Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite
Named for the Greek rhodon, meaning “rose” and chrosis, meaning “coloring.” Rhodochrosite is found in low-temperature to mid-temperature hydrothermal vein deposits, metamorphic rock, commonly in carbonatites, in sediments either as an authigenic or secondary mineral, and occasionally in granite pegmatites. Hundreds of widespread localities, but fine crystals may be found in Romania, Germany, Russia, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, South Africa, and Japan.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/rhodochrosite.pdf
- Formula
- MnCO3
- Crystal System
- Trigonal
- Crystal Habit
- Massive - Granular, Columnar, Botryoidal
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Perfect, Perfect
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- pinkish red, red, rose red, yellowish gray, brown
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
- Fracture
- Brittle - Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 3
- WebMineral
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- Mindat
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Rhodochrosite from Haut-Ogooue, Gabon
Cherry red scalenohedral crystals to 5mm.
Rhodochrosite from American Tunnel, Silverton, San Juan Co., Colorado, United States
Pink aggregates to 1.4cm on quartz matrix and light pink discoidal crystals to 3mm and rhombohedral crystals to over 1cm.
Rhodochrosite from N'Chwaning II mine, Kalahari Mn fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Deep red glassy intergrown semi-spherical aggregate composed of sharp, less than 1mm scalenohedra with pinacoidal terminations oriented in one direction.
Large thumbnail divergent group at least twelve deep glassy red scalenohedral crystals to 2cm.
Rhodochrosite from Santa Rita mine, Morococha dist., Yauli, Junin dept., Peru
Light red rhombs to 4mm covering this specimen.
Rhodochrosite from Pachapaqui dist, Bolognesi prov., Ancash dept., Peru
Excellent specimen with translucent, rich pink rhomb's to 7mm and light frosted rhombs to 5-10mm.
Rhodochrosite from Uchucchacua mine, Oyon prov., Lima dept., Peru
Deep red, glassy scalenohedral crystals to 9mm.
Museum quality specimen with a large 2.6cm fat scalenohedral crystal with three smaller sidekick crystals from 8 to 12mm.
Rhodochrosite from Simms lode, Geevor mine, Pendeen, St. Just, Cornwall, England
Light pink rosettes composed of saddle-shaped rhombohedra to 3mm on Quartz crystals. The Quartz seems to be coated with a brushing of light green Nontronite clay.
Rhodochrosite from Mendip Hills, Somerset, England
Light pink botryoidal crystals to 3mm in vug in manganese oxide mineral.
Rhodochrosite from Herdorf, Siegen, Westphalia, Germany
Rhombic red crystals to 1cm.
Rhodochrosite from Sweet Home mine, near Alma, Park Co., Colorado, United States
Beautiful, almost gemmy, deep red rhombohedral crystals to 1cm.
Rhodochrosite from Davidkovo, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria
- Special Info
- Phillips Collection
Pink rosettes of Rhodochrosite to 5mm with Quartz and a little Chalcopyrite.
Rhodochrosite from Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
An exceptionally large, dark pink Rhodochrosite crystal that has an odd trigonal form, possibly a modification or exaggerated pinnacoidal face on the edge of a rhomb.
Rhodochrosite from Cavnic, Maramures Co., Romania
Light soft pink Rhodochrosite in cotton-like bunches.
Rhodochrosite from Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States
Light pink crystalline crusts.
Rhodochrosite from Sunnyside mine, Eureka dist., San Juan Co., Colorado, United States
Pink clusters of Rhodochrosite. The larger ball is 7mm across.
Rhodochrosite from Quiruvilca mine, Santiago de Chuco prov., La Libertad dept., Peru
Two pinkish red rhombic crystals to 5 and 6mm on Quartz.
Rhodochrosite from Big Elephant mine, Telluride dist., San Miguel Co., Colorado, United States
A nice locality specimen from this litlte known occurence of Rhodochrosite. This specimen features 5mm pink rhombs with light green Fluorite. Galena matrix.
Rhodochrosite from Henderson mine, Clear Creek Co., Colorado, United States
Bladed pink Rhodochrosite crystals to 6mm. Nice piece for the locality, seldon seen on the market.
Rhodochrosite from Emma mine, Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States
Rhombic crystals to 1.5cm in a good cluster.
Rhodochrosite from Silverton, San Juan Co., Colorado, United States
Light pink rhombs to 1cm across on white Quartz matrix.
Rhodochrosite from Branchville quarry, Branchville, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, United States
Pink thick plates or rhombs protruding from matrix with the phosphates of Lithiophyllite (salmon) & Dickinsonite (green).
Rhodochrosite from Grizzly Bear mine, Uncompahgre dist., Ouray Co., Colorado, United States
Soft pink crude and very thin saddle-shaped Rhodochrosite crystals with sceptor and reverse sceptor Quartz crystals to 9mm.
Rhodochrosite from Wuzhou, Guangxi, China
Red crude rhombic crystals of Rhodochrosite to 1cm with just a bit of light purple Fluorite. The red is a little too red in the photos, but still as good as it gets even for Chinese Rhodochrosite.
Rhodochrosite from Black Rock mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Red, translucent and gemmy scalenohedral crystal.
Rhodochrosite from Capillitas mine, Andalgalá, Catamarca, Argentina
A slab of colloform Rhodochrosite with banding and replacement textures.
