Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite is, MnCO3, a carbonate mineral of manganese. This sample, displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, was taken from a gold and silver mine in the American Tunnel, Silverton, Colorado. It was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1974.

Rhodochrosite crystals can have great beauty, but they are relatively soft and brittle and don't serve well in everyday use as gems. Rhodochrosite is a member of the calcite group of carbonates along with Smithsonite and siderite.

The sample is about 12 cm across with the sides of the individual crystals being on the order of a centimeter.

This natural sample is from Hotazel, Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 3x3 cm.

This rhodochrosite sample is from Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is about 4x4 cm.

This sample of rhodochrosite is about 5x5 cm and is from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.

This sample of rhodochrosite is about 9x7 cm and is from Silverton, Colorado

This sample is rhodochrosite with arsenopyrite. It is about 11x14 cm and is from Cassandra, Greece.

This sample is about 20x20 cm in size.

This sample of rhodochrosite is about 6x9 cm.

More rhodochrosite samples
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