Rhodochrosite
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox mineral
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its pure form (rare), it is typically a rose-red colour,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> but it can also be shades of pink to pale brown. It streaks white,<ref name="Cairncross">Template:Cite book</ref> and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4.5. Its specific gravity is between 3.45 and 3.6.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The crystal system of rhodochrosite is trigonal, with a structure and cleavage in the carbonate rhombohedral system. The carbonate ions (Template:Chem) are arranged in a triangular planar configuration, and the manganese ions (Mn2+) are surrounded by six oxygen ions in an octahedral arrangement. The MnO6 octahedra and CO3 triangles are linked together to form a three-dimensional structure. Crystal twinning is often present. It can be confused with the manganese silicate rhodonite, but is distinctly softer.<ref>Rhodonite. Mindat.org</ref> Rhodochrosite is formed by the oxidation of manganese ore, and is found in South Africa, China, and the Americas.<ref name="Cairncross"/> It is one of the national symbols of Argentina and the state of Colorado.
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 rose color of rhodochrosite.
Occurrence and discovery
Rhodochrosite 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, Maramureș, present-day Romania. The name is derived from the combination of Greek words ροδόν (rodon, meaning rose) and χρωσις (chrosis, meaning coloring).<ref name=HBM/>
Use
Rhodochrosite is mainly used as an ore of manganese, which is a key component of low-cost stainless steel formulations, many tool steels, and certain aluminium alloys.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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 and is also sought after by many collectors.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.
Culture
Rhodochrosite is Argentina's "national gemstone".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Colorado officially named rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
It is sometimes called "Rosa del Inca", "Inca Rose" or Rosinca.<ref name="GemRocks">Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
-
"The Searchlight," a large red rhodochrosite from Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado, U.S.
-
Rhodochrosite with fluorite, tetrahedrite and quartz.
-
Rhodochrosite from Silverton, Colorado, U.S.
-
The Alma King is the largest known rhodochrosite crystal; it was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado and donated to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
-
Exhibit in La Plata Museum, Argentina.
-
The Alma Rose specimen from the Sweet Home Mine. On display at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.
-
Rhodochrosite from Argentina
See also
References
- Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., Template:ISBN.
External links
Template:Manganese minerals Template:National emblems of Argentina