Rhodochrosite is a manganesecarbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color,[5] but 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] It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and cleaves with rhombohedral carbonate cleavage in three directions. Crystal twinning often is present. It is transparent to translucent with refractive indices of nω=1.814 to 1.816, nε=1.596 to 1.598. It is often confused with the manganese silicate, rhodonite, but is distinctly softer.[citation needed] Rhodochrosite is formed by oxidation of manganese ore, and is found in South Africa, China and the Americas.[6] It is officially listed as one of the National symbols of Argentina.
Pink, rose, rose-red, red, cherry-red, yellow, yellowish gray, gray, cinnamon-brown, white, may be banded; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.
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.
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.
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[citation needed].
Use
Rhodochrosite is mainly used as an ore of manganese, which is a key component of low-cost stainless steel formulations and certain aluminium alloys.[8] Quality banded specimens are often used for decorative stones and jewelry. Due to its softness and perfect cleavage it is rarely found faceted in jewelry.[9]
Manganese carbonate is extremely destructive to the amalgamation process used in the concentration of silver ores, and were often discarded on the mine dump.
Culture
Stereo image
Left frame
Right frame
Parallel view ()
Cross-eye view ()
Small Rhodochrosite specimen featured in a mineral kit, from Wuton mine, Guangxi prov, China.
Rhodochrosite is Argentina's "national gemstone".[10][11]Colorado officially named rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002.[12]
It is sometimes called "Rosa del Inca", "Inca Rose" or Rosinca.[13]
Rhodochrosite with fluorite, tetrahedrite and quartz
Pink is the most common color of Rhodochrosite. Specimen mined near Silverton, Colorado
The Alma King is the largest known rhodochrosite crystal; it was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado. It is on display in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
^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. ISBN0962209740.
^Deer, William Alexander (1998). Rock-forming Minerals: Non-Silicates. Vol. 5B. Geological Society of London. pp. 150–152. ISBN9781897799901.
^ abCairncross, Bruce (2015). Understanding Minerals & Crystals. Penguin Random House South Africa. p. 180. ISBN9781775843344.
^Ridgway, Robert Henderson (1933). Manganese: General Information. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. p. 3.
^Emsley, John (2001). "Manganese". Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p. 251. ISBN978-0-19-850340-8.
^Matlins, Antoinette Leonard (2005). Colored gemstones : the Antoinette Matlins buying guide : how to select, buy, care for & enjoy sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and other colored gems with confidence and knowledge. Woodstock, Vt.: GemStone Press. p. 143. ISBN978-0-943763-45-3. OCLC 60374175.
^"Piedra nacional: la Rodocrosita" (in Spanish). Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the Colombian Republic. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^Moreno, María (9 November 2002). "La piedra argentina". Página/12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^"Colorado State Archives; Symbols & Emblems". Retrieved 2 February 2012.
^Dietrich, R. V. (2005-07-16). "Rhodochrosite". Central Michigan University. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., ISBN0-471-80580-7.
Media related to Rhodochrosite at Wikimedia Commons
January 12, 2023
rhodochrosite, manganese, carbonate, mineral, with, chemical, composition, mnco3, rare, pure, form, typically, rose, color, also, shades, pink, pale, brown, streaks, white, mohs, hardness, varies, between, specific, gravity, between, crystallizes, trigonal, sy. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3 In its rare pure form it is typically a rose red color 5 but 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 It crystallizes in the trigonal system and cleaves with rhombohedral carbonate cleavage in three directions Crystal twinning often is present It is transparent to translucent with refractive indices of nw 1 814 to 1 816 ne 1 596 to 1 598 It is often confused with the manganese silicate rhodonite but is distinctly softer citation needed Rhodochrosite is formed by oxidation of manganese ore and is found in South Africa China and the Americas 6 It is officially listed as one of the National symbols of Argentina RhodochrositeGeneralCategoryCarbonate mineralsFormula repeating unit MnCO3IMA symbolRds 1 Strunz classification5 AB 05Crystal systemTrigonalCrystal classHexagonal scalenohedral 3 m H M symbol 3 2 m Space groupR3 cUnit cella 4 777 c 15 67 A Z 6IdentificationFormula mass114 95 g molColorPink rose rose red red cherry red yellow yellowish gray gray cinnamon brown white may be banded colourless to pale rose in transmitted light Crystal habitRhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals also commonly bladed columnar stalactitic botryoidal granular or massiveTwinningOn 101 2 as contact and lamellarCleavageOn 101 1 perfect parting on 101 2 FractureUneven conchoidalTenacityBrittleMohs scale hardness3 5 4LusterVitreous to pearlyStreakWhiteDiaphaneityTransparent to translucentSpecific gravity3 7Optical propertiesUniaxial Refractive indexnw 1 814 1 816 ne 1 596 1 598Birefringenced 0 218PleochroismweakUltraviolet fluorescenceNoneReferences 2 3 4 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 Contents 1 Occurrence and discovery 2 Use 3 Culture 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOccurrence and discovery EditRhodochrosite 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 It was first described in 1813 in reference to a sample from Cavnic Maramures 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 ῥodoxrws meaning rose colored citation needed Use EditRhodochrosite is mainly used as an ore of manganese which is a key component of low cost stainless steel formulations and certain aluminium alloys 8 Quality banded specimens are often used for decorative stones and jewelry Due to its softness and perfect cleavage it is rarely found faceted in jewelry 9 Manganese carbonate is extremely destructive to the amalgamation process used in the concentration of silver ores and were often discarded on the mine dump Culture EditStereo imageLeft frame Right frame Parallel view Cross eye view Small Rhodochrosite specimen featured in a mineral kit from Wuton mine Guangxi prov China Rhodochrosite is Argentina s national gemstone 10 11 Colorado officially named rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002 12 It is sometimes called Rosa del Inca Inca Rose or Rosinca 13 Gallery Edit The Searchlight Large red rhodochrosite from Sweet Home Mine Alma Colorado Rhodochrosite with fluorite tetrahedrite and quartz Pink is the most common color of Rhodochrosite Specimen mined near Silverton Colorado The Alma King is the largest known rhodochrosite crystal it was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma Colorado It is on display in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Exhibit in La Plata Museum La Plata Argentina The Alma Rose specimen from the Sweet Home Mine in Alma CO Located at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro OR See also EditManganoan calciteReferences Edit Warr L N 2021 IMA CNMNC approved mineral symbols Mineralogical Magazine 85 3 291 320 Bibcode 2021MinM 85 291W doi 10 1180 mgm 2021 43 S2CID 235729616 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 a b Cairncross Bruce 2015 Understanding Minerals amp 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 Emsley John 2001 Manganese Nature s Building Blocks An A Z Guide to the Elements Oxford UK Oxford University Press p 251 ISBN 978 0 19 850340 8 Matlins Antoinette Leonard 2005 Colored gemstones the Antoinette Matlins buying guide how to select buy care for amp enjoy sapphires emeralds rubies and other colored gems with confidence and knowledge Woodstock Vt GemStone Press p 143 ISBN 978 0 943763 45 3 OCLC 60374175 Piedra nacional la Rodocrosita in Spanish Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the Colombian Republic Retrieved 7 October 2013 Moreno Maria 9 November 2002 La piedra argentina Pagina 12 in Spanish Retrieved 7 October 2013 Colorado State Archives Symbols amp Emblems Retrieved 2 February 2012 Dietrich R V 2005 07 16 Rhodochrosite Central Michigan University Retrieved 2007 08 15 Hurlbut Cornelius S Klein Cornelis 1985 Manual of Mineralogy 20th ed ISBN 0 471 80580 7 External links Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Rhodochrosite Media related to Rhodochrosite at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhodochrosite amp oldid 1133036537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
