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Dendritic Rhyolite 1.25+ lbs
$47.00
Rhodochrosite
$62.00
Item #: R-7214
Details:
- gemstone: Rhodochrosite
- color: pink, white, green
- dimensions: approx 3.75 × 3 inches
- thickness: approx 1/4 inch
- weight: 153.65 g
This listing is for a rough slab of Rhodochrosite from Argentina, 100% natural. It can be used for lapidary to make cabochons or as a display specimen.
Details:
- gemstone: Rhodochrosite
- color: pink, white, green
- dimensions: approx 3.75 × 3 inches
- thickness: approx 1/4 inch
- weight: 153.65 g
The measurements provided are at the widest part and are close approximations. The piece(s) shown in the pictures is what will be shipped to you.
Some pictures are taken with the stone wet while others are dry. These are rough, not polished pieces.
Rhodochrosite is a vibrant manganese carbonate mineral famous for its distinctive bubblegum-pink, rose-red, and raspberry coloring with characteristic white or grey bands.
Physical & Chemical Properties
• Chemical Formula: MnCO₃ (Manganese carbonate)
• Crystal System: Trigonal (often forms rhombohedral or scalenohedral crystals, though massive or banded habits are more common)
• Mohs Hardness: 3.5 to 4.5 (making it a soft stone that scratches easily)
• Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to pearly
• Streak: White
• How It Forms: Precipitates from hydrothermal veins or descending groundwater solutions in sedimentary and metamorphic rock cavities, sometimes forming stalactitic or botryoidal (grape-like) shapes.
• Notable Localities: Top-grade transparent crystals come from the Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Colorado (where it is the state mineral), and the N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa. Banded decorative material is heavily sourced from Argentina, earning it the historical nickname "Inca Rose" or Rosa del Inca.
Green stripes or patches within a greenish or multi-colored inclusion inside Argentinian rhodochrosite typically originates from co-existing secondary copper minerals or silica phases present in the polymetallic ore veins of the Capillitas Mine in Catamarca Province.
Causes of Green Inclusions
• Copper Minerals: The hydrothermal vein systems in Argentina that deposit rhodochrosite are rich in base metals, including copper, lead, and silver. Secondary copper alteration products like malachite or chrysocolla can form alongside or infiltrate fractures within the manganese carbonate, producing vibrant green bands or spots.
• Green Quartz or Chlorite: Silicate phases such as chalcedony or green quartz occasionally crystallize during shifts in hydrothermal fluid composition, trapping microscopic green silicate or chlorite inclusions within or adjacent to the growth rings.
• Matrix and Associated Species: The Capillitas mining district hosts over 120 distinct mineral species, meaning host-rock or matrix remnants containing copper sulfides or altered iron-manganese phases are frequently sliced alongside the pink and white manganocalcite bands.
This is what Rachel from NY had to say about our Rhodochrosite: Gorgeous rhodochrosite slab and just as expected based on the photos! Thank you!!
If you’ll be displaying the slab in your collection, we have easel stands which can be purchased separately. We have 2″ and 3″ ones available.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Thank You
Tim & Tonya Daniels
Safety Advisory (California Proposition 65):
While completely safe to display on a shelf or wear as finished pieces, many raw mineral specimens naturally contain toxic elements, heavy metals, or glass-like structures (such as copper, arsenic, lead, or silica). To ensure your safety, please follow these responsible ownership and lapidary protocols:
• Basic Handling: Always wash your hands immediately after touching raw minerals and never ingest minerals.
• Lapidary Safety: When cutting or drilling, always use specialized safety equipment, including wet-cutting machinery, proper ventilation, and appropriate respirators or masks to avoid inhaling toxic dust or fumes.
