Rhodochrosite
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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. |
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This sample of rhodochrosite is about 5x5 cm and is from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. |
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This sample of rhodochrosite is about 9x7 cm and is from Silverton, Colorado |
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This sample is rhodochrosite with arsenopyrite. It is about 11x14 cm and is from Cassandra, Greece. |
This sample is about 20x20 cm in size.
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This sample of rhodochrosite is about 6x9 cm. |
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