Rhodochrosite: Facts With Photos

Rhodochrosite is a very attractive mineral with an absolutely one-of-a-kind, beautiful color.

Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO₃. In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color, but impure specimens can be shades of pink to pale brown. Its name comes from the Greek words "rhodon" meaning rose and "chrosis" meaning color.

Rosette Rhodochrosite From Huachocolpa Mine, Peru.
Copyright © Xdxu

It was first described in 1813 in reference to a sample from Cavnic, Maramureş, present-day Romania. According to Dimitrescu and Radulescu, 1966 and to Papp, 1997, this mineral was described for the first time in Sacaramb, Romania, not in Cavnic, Romania. The name is derived from the Greek word ῥοδόχρως meaning rose-colored.

Amazing plate of Stalactites Rhodochrosite from MineSanta Rita,
Argentina. credit: Ignacio Adrian Tepman.

It streaks white, and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4. Its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.7. It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and cleaves with rhombohedral carbonate cleavage in three directions.

Stalactites can be found in caves all over the world, but they are particularly common in Argentina. Rhodochrosite's stalactite from Capillitas Mine, Catamarca,
Argentina. Photo: Ignacio Adrian Tepman.

Rhodochrosite occurs as a hydrothermal vein mineral along with other manganese minerals in low temperature ore deposits as in the silver mines of Romania where it was first found. Banded rhodochrosite is mined in Capillitas, Argentina.

Rhodochrosite with unique crystal Shape and color from Moanda
Mine, Gabon. Photo Credit: Yasu Okazaki

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. It is for this reason that the most common color encountered is pink.

Stunning Rhodochrosite Stalactite slice- from Capillitas
Mine, Catamarca, Argentina. credit: LGF Foundation, Inc.

Its main use is as an ore of manganese which is a key component of low-cost stainless steel formulations and certain aluminium alloys.


Gemmy red rhodochrosite zoned botryoidal crystals. From N'Chwaning Mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa credit: Le Comptoir Géologique

Due to Rhodochrosites being relatively soft, and having perfect cleavage, it is very difficult to cut, and therefore rarely found faceted in jewelry.