Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with a transparent to translucent rose-pink color with undulating bands of white, gray or brown. The name derives from the Greek rhodon, meaning rose, and lithos, meaning stone. Most often it is cut en cabochon although particularly transparent examples are sometimes faceted.
Gemological Information for Rhodochrosite
| Color: | Pink with Bands of White, Gray or Brown, Transparent Pink and Red |
| Crystal Structure: | Hexagonal (Trigonal) |
| Refractive Index: | 1.597 to 1.817 |
| Durability: | Poor |
| Hardness: | 3.5 to 4.5 |
| Family: | |
| Similar Stones: | Rhodonite, Unakite and Hydrogrossular |
| Treatments: | None |
| Country of Origin: | Argentine, Australia, Germany, Romania, Spain, U.S., South Africa |
Rhodochrosite Care
| Ultrasonic Cleaning: | Never |
| Steam Cleaning: | Never |
| Warm Soapy Water: | Safe |
| Chemical Attack: | Effervesces to Hydrochloric Acid |
| Light Sensitivity: | Stable |
| Heat Sensitivity: | Turns Dark and Breaks with a Jeweler's Torch. |
Sources
- Gem Reference Guide, Los Angeles: Gemological Institute of America, 1988. Pp. 199-200.
- Schumann, Walter. Gemstones of the World, New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., 1977. Pp. 168.