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This specimen weighs 2.51 grams. It measures 18 mm x 13 mm x 10 mm.I offer a shipping discount for customers who combine their payments for multiple purchases into one payment!
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and I will buy back the item for your full purchase price.Hi there. I am selling this stunning rhodochrosite with quartz mineral Specimen from the legendary Sweet Home Mine in Colorado. This piece is very lustrous and a real gem. Thanks so much for visiting my store and have a great day!
The following is information about this mineral from historyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRhodochrositeRhodochrosite on Matrix - Peru.jpgGeneralCategory Carbonate mineralsFormula(repeating unit) MnCO3IMA symbol Rds[1]Strunz classification 5.AB.05Crystal system TrigonalCrystal class Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m)H-M symbol: (3 2/m)Space group R3cUnit cell a = 4.777, c = 15.67 [Å]; Z = 6IdentificationFormula mass 114.95 g/molColor Pink, rose, rose-red, red, cherry-red, yellow, yellowish grey, grey, cinnamon-brown, white, may be banded; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.Crystal habit Rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals; also commonly bladed, columnar, stalactitic, botryoidal, granular or massiveTwinning On {1012} as contact and lamellarCleavage On {1011} perfect; parting on {1012}Fracture Uneven, conchoidalTenacity BrittleMohs scale hardness 3.5–4Lustre Vitreous to pearlyStreak WhiteDiaphaneity Transparent to translucentSpecific gravity 3.7Optical properties Uniaxial (-)Refractive index nω = 1.814–1.816nε = 1.596–1.598Birefringence δ = 0.218Pleochroism weakUltraviolet fluorescence NoneReferences [2][3][4]Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its pure form (rare), it is typically a rose-red colour,[5] but it 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 often confused with the manganese silicate, rhodonite, but is distinctly softer.[8] Rhodochrosite is formed by the 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.
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. This is the reason for the pink color of rhodochrosite.
Occurrence and discoveryRhodochrosite 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. The name is derived from the combination of Greek words ροδόν (rodon, meaning rose) and χρωσις (chrosis, meaning coloring).[2]
UseRhodochrosite is mainly used as an ore of manganese, which is a key component of low-cost stainless steel formulations and certain aluminium alloys.[9] Quality banded specimens are often used for decorative stones and jewellery. Due to its softness and perfect cleavage it is rarely found faceted in jewellery.[10]
Manganese carbonate is extremely destructive to the amalgamation process historically used in the concentration of silver ores, and were often discarded on the mine dump.
