Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite is a common mineral of the „carbonates and nitrates“ class.
Member of calcite group in which it forms isomorphous series with calcite and siderite.

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^{Rhodochrosite cabochon with so-called "tensioned table facet", a popular style of cutting in the 1960ies}

Origin of name: Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749–1817), German mineralogist and geologist, called the mineral Manganspat (manganese spar) because of the chemical composition and its perfect cleavage.
In 1813 Friedrich Hausmann (1782–1859), also a German mineralogist and geologist, christened it rhodochrosite, from Greek ῥόδον [rhódon], rose, and  χρῶμα [chroma], colour.
August Breithaupt, yet another (as you might have guessed) German geologist, thought the name was unattractive and hard to pronounce and suggested Rosenspat (rose spar) and Himbeerspat (raspberry spar) instead, names which, however, never took hold.

Synonyms and trade names: manganese spar, Himbeerspat, Rosenspat, Inka rose

Can be confused with: rhodochrosite might be confused with (atypical) rhodonite lacking the typical black spots or stripes.

^{Rhodochrosite from Romania (left) and rhodonite from Brazil (right)}
Transparent rhodochrosite can easily be confused with transparent rhodonite.

 

^{Rhodochrosite from N´Chwaning, South Africa (left) and rhodonite from Minas Gerais, Brazil (right)
(Photos: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0)}

Vorkommen: very common. At the time of writing (2025) mindat.org lists more than 2000 localitites on all continents except Antarctica.
Localities of some importance for the gem and jewellery trade are Argentina, N´Chwaning and Hotazel (aka "hot as hell") in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Peru e.a.
Type locality is Cavnic Mine in Romania.

^{Outstandingly fine rhodochrosite from Argentina}

Handling: due to the relative softness and perfect cleavage rhodochrosite must be handled with care. Very sensitive to acids. Do not clean ultrasonically, do not electro-plate. Rhodochrosite is heat sensitive and dissociates at around 650°C. Unset before soldering!

Worth knowing: due to the high manganese content of up to almost 50% rhodochrosite is an important manganese ore.

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