credit: Yasu Okazaki It was named the state mineral in mineral-rich Colorado in 2002, since some rare large red crystals have been found at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado. Rhodochrosite is commonly associated with fluorite, quartz, … The Alma King is the largest known rhodochrosite crystal; it was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado. Other sources include Chile, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and the USA. It is found in Argentina, Peru, Colorado and Montana, U.S, and Quebec, Canada. Pink, rose, rose-red, red, cherry-red, yellow, yellowish gray, gray, cinnamon-brown, white, may be banded; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light. While rhodochrosite has been discovered in mines in many different locations, the most famous sites are in Argentina and Colorado. Its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.7. Corrections? Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, This page was last edited on 1 January 2021, at 23:33. Rhodochrosite was first described in 1813 based on a sample from Romania. Notable occurrences are at Cavnic in Romania and at Butte, Montana, and Leadville, Colorado, in the United States. Rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals; also commonly bladed, columnar, stalactitic, botryoidal, granular or massive. [4][5] Colorado officially named rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002. The formation of rhodochrosite usually occurs in fractures and cavities of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Unusual Shape and color of Rhodochrosite from Moanda Mine, Gabon. Rhodochrosite is now considered as the official state mineral of Colorado. Specimen mined near Silverton, Colorado. At Mont Saint-Hilaire, rhodochrosite is a common late-stage mineral in pegmatites and altered pegmatites. It occurs mainly as massive aggregates or in granular, botryoidal, nodular or stalactitic forms, though rare, transparent rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals are found. Commonly occurs as a primary gangue mineral in moderate- to low-temperature hydrothermal veins, also in high-temperature metasomatic deposits and sedimentary manganese deposits or as a late stage hydrothermal mineral in pegmatites, especially lithiophilite-bearing ones. The pink color of rhodochrosite is caused by the element manganese and it is formed when manganese is dissolved by ground water and combines with a carbonate material and then drips off the ceiling of caves and crevices deep underground. It was opened in 1873 as a silver mine and was worked on and off for silver until the 1960s. Banded rhodochrosite is mined in Capillitas, Argentina. This stone is occasionally found within Silver mines and even in association with Silver ore itself. Rhodochrosite is a member of the Calcite Group of minerals that includes Calcite, Gaspeite, Magnesite, Otavite, Rhodochrosite, Siderite, Smithsonite and Spherocobaltite. Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. Other minerals such as amethyst, smoky quartz, sapphire, amazonite, opals, jaspers, and a wide variety of … Rhodochrosite has a lovely natural pink to red color. Rhodochrosite, mineral, composed of manganese carbonate (MnCO3), that is a source of manganese for the ferromanganese alloys used in steel production. “Rhodochrosite” is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO 3. Rhodochrosite forms a complete solid solution series with iron carbonate (siderite). Quality banded specimens are often used for decorative stones and jewelry. Crystal twinning often is present. It contains over 3000 rhodochrosite specimens, measures almost 3 meters across and represents the largest rhodochrosite pocket ever discovered at the Sweet Home Mine. Located at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro, OR. However, it’s incredibly rare to find it in well-formed rhodochrosite … It is on display in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Small Rhodochrosite specimen featured in a mineral kit, from Wuton mine, Guangxi prov, China. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. With such a simple chemical make up, MnCO 3, Rhodochrosite is found all over the earth. Its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.7. It is commonly found in ore veins formed at moderate temperatures, in high-temperature metamorphic deposits, and in sedimentary deposits. MnCO. It is transparent to translucent with refractive indicesof nω=1.814 to 1.8… Rhodochrosite is pink, rose to a raspberry red colour and has delicate swirling or banded patterns, similar to those found in lace agates and malachite. It is officially listed as one of the National symbols of Argentina. 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