Beads and cabochons made of imitation rhodochrosite are in the gem and jewelry market. They are made from powdered mineral matter, in pink and white colors, and bound together with resin. The powders are layered and swirled together to produce a banded appearance similar to much natural rhodochrosite. To the unaided eye, the material looks…

Rhodochrosite is a favorite gemstone of many people. It is often slabbed to show off its banded or concentric patterns. Most of the slabs are used to cut cabochons. Cutting rhodochrosite is a difficult job because the material has perfect cleavage, and it is so soft that it can be difficult to polish. Nice, stable, slabbed material is…

The formation of rhodochrosite usually occurs in fractures and cavities of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It is often associated with silver deposits, and a few silver mines produce rhodochrosite as a byproduct. Some of the common modes of occurrence and their lapidary uses are described below. In metamorphic rocks, rhodochrosite is found as a vein and fracture-filling mineral where it precipitates from…

Rhodochrosite has a variable chemical composition. It is a manganese carbonate, but the manganese is frequently replaced by iron, magnesium and/or calcium as shown in this formula: (Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)CO3. These substitutions of other elements for manganese change the composition and alter the specific gravity, hardness, and color of the mineral. The bright pink color can become grayish,…

Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral that ranges in color from light pink to bright red. It is found in a small number of locations worldwide where other manganese minerals are usually present. Rhodochrosite is sometimes used as an ore of manganese but is rarely found in economic quantities. Specimens with a wonderful pink color are used to produce highly…