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Rhodonite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  MnSiO₃   [Manganese Iron Magnesium Calcium Silicate]

Discovered in 1819;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Rhodonite is named from the Greek word rhodon for rose-colored in allusion to its color.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.27-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
K : Inosilicates with 5-periodic single chains

Related to:

Rhodonite - Inesite Series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Triclinic - Pinacoidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals rough, with rounded edges, typically tabular and elongated, to 20 cm; commonly massive, cleavable to compact.

Twinning:

Lamellar, with [010] as composition plane.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Perfect, [110] Perfect

Fracture:

Conchoidal to Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.5 - 6.5

Density:

3.57 - 3.76 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Pink, Rose Red, Brownish Red, Yellow, Black; exterior commonly black from manganese oxides

Transparency:

Translucent to Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous, somewhat Pearly on cleavages

Refractive Index:

1.711 - 1.751  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0130

Dispersion:

None; r < v

Pleochroism:

Weak; X = yellowish red, Y = pinkish red, Z = pale yellowish red

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In manganese-bearing deposits formed by hydrothermal, contact and regional metamorphic, and sedimentary processes.

Common Associations:

Calcite, Franklinite, Willemite (Franklin, New Jersey, USA); Alleghanyite, Calcite, Galaxite, Grunerite, Magnetite, Tephroite (Bald Knob, North Carolina, USA).

Type Locality:

Kaiser Franz Mine (Kuxloch Mine; König Wilhelm Mine), Schävenholz (Schebenholz; Schäbenholz), Elbingerode, Wernigerode, Harz Mts, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Year Discovered:

1819

View mineral photos:

Rhodonite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Rhodonite is mostly found as an abundant opaque mineral and popular for cabochons and carvings. It is very rare as a faceted gem due to the scarcity  of transparent material. It is also considered one of the most difficult of all gems to facet because of its easy, perfect cleavage. It is closely related to Pyroxmangite and Bustamite.

Most Rhodonite sources only produce massive, opaque speciments. A few locations for gemmy crystals include Broken Hill, Yancowinna County, New South Wales, Australia; Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil; and Huallanca, Bolognesi Province, Ancash Department, Peru.
 

  
Rhodonite gems for sale:

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