Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                                  Geology Home Page                

                                  Roger Weller, geology instructor

                                   [email protected]
                                  copyright 2007-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
 rhodochrosite 

Chemical Group:    carbonate

Chemical Formula:    MnCO3
Color:  rose-red, yellowish gray, dark red, brown             Streak:  white

Transparency:  translucent to sub-translucent

Luster:  vitreous to pearly

 

Hardness:  3.5 to 4.5        Specific Gravity:  3.45 to 3.6      Fracture:  uneven

Cleavage:  rhombohedral, three directions

 

Crystal Forms and habits:  Trigonal system
     Crystals are usually rhombohedrons.
     Many specimens are cave formations: stalactites and banded cave onyx.

Mineral Associations: silver ore

Identifying Characteristics:  Rhodochrosite resembles rhodonite, but it is much softer.

Uses:  minor ore of manganese
     Rhodochrosite is also a popular gemstone.

Occurrences: 
USA
Colorado:
     Climax, Leadville. and Silverton
     Sweet Home mine, Bucskin Joe Gulch, Alma
     John Reed mine, Tanner Boy mine, and the Russian mines
     Matchless mine, Leadville
     John Fisk mine
     Eagle mine, Gilman
     Urad mine, Clear Creek County

     Powers mine, Mammoth mine, and the Mary Murphy mine
Montana:
     Emma mine, Butte
     Phillipsburg
Nevada:
     Austin, Park City, and Bingham

WORLD-WIDE
Argentina:
     Capillitas and Andalgala mines,Catamarca Province
Germany:
     Grube, Wolf, Herdorf, and Beiersdorf
Japan:
     Oppu mine, Aomori Prefecture, Honshu
Mexico:
     Cananea, Sonora
     Santa Eulalia
Peru:
     Mina Huallapon, Pasta Buena, Ancash
Romania:
     Kapnik and Nagyag
South Africa:
     Hotazel, Northern Cape Province
Yugoslavia:
     Trepca

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- moderate         when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: