Rhodonite
Once considered a type of pyroxene, it was later determined to belong to the pyroxenoid group. While its original color is pink, it takes on a brownish hue as its iron content increases.
The beautiful luster of Rhodonite
Basic Information
| English Name | Rhodonite |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | 薔薇輝石 (Barakiseki) |
| Chemical Formula | (Mn,Ca)Mn₄[Si₅O₁₅] |
| Crystal System | Triclinic |
| Hardness | 6 |
| Specific Gravity | 3.55 |
Characteristics & Varieties
- Rhodonite Quartz: Specimens impregnated within quartz.
- Imperial Red Rhodonite: High-quality specimens with high transparency and a strong red hue.
- Fowlerite: Zinc-bearing variety, mined in New Jersey, USA.
- Black Matrix Rhodonite: Contains significant amounts of black manganese oxide.
Origin, Aliases, Treatments, & Similar Stones
Similar Stones: Pyroxmangite (darker varieties), Nambulite (brownish varieties), Bustamite (pale pink varieties), Alleghanyite (pink to red varieties)