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Rhodochrosite

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Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA
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Formula:
MnCO
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Pink, rose, red, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, PearlyHardness:3½ - 4
Name:From Greek, rhodom, rose, plus chrosis, a colouring, referring to its colour.


Calcite Group. Calcite-Rhodochrosite Series and Rhodochrosite-Siderite Series.

Commonly occurs as a primary gangue mineral in moderate- to low-temperature hydrothermal veins, also in high-temperature metasomatic deposits and sedimentary manganese deposits or as a late stage hydrothermal mineral in pegmatites, especially lithiophilite-bearing ones.

Classification of Rhodochrosite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.02-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.1.4

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.12.1

11 : Carbonates
12 : Carbonates of Mn
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Type Occurrence of Rhodochrosite

Type Locality:Cavnic Mine (Kapnikbánya), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
Year of Discovery:1813

Occurrences of Rhodochrosite

Geological Setting:Low to moderate temperature hydrothermal veins, metamorphic deposits, carbonatites, sedimentary deposits.

Physical Properties of Rhodochrosite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Pink, rose, red, yellowish-grey, brown, white, gray; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.
Comment:Reds occur when the mineral has minimal iron content.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {1011}.
Parting:On {0112} at times.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Translation gliding:Translation gliding with T{0001}, t[1010].
Density (measured):3.7 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.7 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rhodochrosite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3c (R3 2/c)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.777Å, c = 15.67Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.28
Unit Cell Volume:V 309.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Crystals rhombohedral {1011} or less commonly {0112}, then frequently rounded and composite; scalenohedral rare; thick tabular {0001}; prismatic [0001]. {1120} and {2131} often striated [1101]. Massive, coarsely granular; compact; columnar; crusts; stalactitic (with zoned growth rings); botryoidal.
For habits see:Rhodochrosite Habits.
Twinning:On {0112}, lamellar, uncommon.
Crystal Atlas:
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Rhodochrosite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rhodochrosite no.8 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rhodochrosite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Rhodochrosite no.11 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Rhodochrosite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.814 - 1.816 nε = 1.596 - 1.598
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.218

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Deep red coloured material may be faintly dichroic with absorption O greater than E.

Chemical Properties of Rhodochrosite

Formula:
MnCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, Mn, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Mn, O
Common Impurities:Fe,Ca,Mg,Zn,Co,Cd

Relationship of Rhodochrosite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Calcite (see here)
Forms a series with Siderite (see here)
Related to:
  • Calcite Group
    • Common Associates:
    TetrahedriteTephroiteSphaleriteSideriteRhodonite
    QuartzPyriteManganiteHausmanniteGarnet Group
    FriedeliteFluoriteDolomiteCalciteBraunite
    BaryteAlabandite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    5.AB.05Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Gaspéite
    (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Magnesite
    MgCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Otavite
    CdCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Siderite
    FeCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Smithsonite
    ZnCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
    CoCO
     
    3
    5.AB.10Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Kutnohorite
    Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Minrecordite
    CaZn(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.15Aragonite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Cerussite
    PbCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Strontianite
    SrCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Witherite
    BaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.20Vaterite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.25Huntite
    CaMg
     
    3
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    5.AB.30Norsethite
    BaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.35Alstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Olekminskite
    Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Paralstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.45Barytocalcite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.50Carbocernaite
    (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.55Benstonite
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    6
    		(Ca,Mn)
     
    6
    		Mg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    13
    5.AB.60Juangodoyite
    Na
     
    2
    		Cu(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    11.12.2Holdawayite
    Mn
     
    6
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    7
    		(Cl,OH)
    11.12.3Desautelsite
    Mg
     
    6
    		Mn
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    11.12.4Kutnohorite
    Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2

    Other Names for Rhodochrosite

    Synonyms:
    Carbonate of ManganeseDiallogiteDialogiteInca RoseManganese Spar
    Raspberry SparRhodochroliteRhodocrositeStrömiteTorrensite
    Villaurite
    French names:
    Manganèse oxydé carbonatéOxide de manganèse couleur de rose
    German names:
    Blättriges RotmanganerzDiallogitDialogitDichter RothsteinHimbeerspat
    HimbeerspathKohlensaures Magnesium oxydulLuftsaures BraunsteinerzManganspatManganspath
    RhodochrolitRhodochrositRosenspathRother BraunsteinerzStrömit
    Italian names:
    Rodocrosite
    Japanese names:
    菱マンガン鉱
    Latin names:
    Magnesium acido aëro mineralisatumMagnesium ochraceum rubrum
    Russian names:
    Родохрозит
    Spanish names:
    DiallogitaDialogitaRhodochrolitaRhodochrositaStrömita
    Swedish names:
    Rothspath
    Traditional Chinese names:
    亞根庭紅紋
    Varieties:
    CapillititeCobaltoan RhodochrositePoniteSphaerodialogiteZincorhodochrosite

    Other Information

    Fluorescence in UV light:None.
    Thermal Behaviour:Begins to dissociate at about 300˚ with the formation of CO2 and MnO.
    Other Information:Soluble with effervescence in warm acids. Slightly soluble in water with the solubility rate increasing with the presence of CO2.
    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Rhodochrosite

    Reference List:Bergmann, T. (1782) Sciagraphia regni mineralis (as Magnesium acido aëro mineralisatum).

    Lenz, D.G. (1794) Versuch einer vollständigen Anleitung zur Kenntniss der Mineralien. vol. 2, Leipzig (as Luftsaures Braunsteinerz).

    Haüy, R.J. (1809) Tableau comparative des résultants de la cristallographie et de l’analyse chimique relativement à la classification des minéraux. Paris: 111.

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: 302.

    Sansoni (1881) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 5: 250.

    Lacroix, A. (1901) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 3: 623.

    Kreutz (1909) Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 232.

    Manasse (1911) Atti soc. tosc., Mem., Pisa: 27: 76.

    Wyckoff cited in: Strukturber (1913-1926): I: 316.

    Ford (1917) Trans. Conn. Ac. Arts Sc.: 22: 211.

    Wherry and Larsen (1917) Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences: 7: 365.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 5: 198.

    Honess (1918) American Journal of Science: 45: 201.

    Gaubert (1919) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 42: 97.

    Niggli (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 231.

    Veit (1921) Jahrbuch Min., Beil.-Bd.: 45: 121.

    Koch (1924) Annals Hist.-Nat. Mus. Nat. Hungary: 21: 67.

    Manchot and Lorenz (1924) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 134: 297.

    Barić and Tućan (1925) Ann. Geol. Pen. Balkan., Belgrade: 8: 129.

    Hintze, Carl (1927) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3216.

    Zsivny (1927) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 65: 728.

    Mayo and O'Leary (1934) American Mineralogist: 19: 304.

    Otto (1935) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 47: 89.

    Dolar-Mantuani (1937) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 98: 181.

    Yosimura (1939) Journal of the Faculty of Science of Hokkaido Imperial University: 4: 361.

    Fornaseri (1941) Rend. Soc. min. ital.: 1: 60.

    Wayland (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 614.

    Ham and Oakes (1944) Economic Geology: 39: 412.

    Kulp, Wright, and Holmes (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 195 (thermal analyses).

    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 171-175.

    American Journal of Sciences: 50: 317-360.

    Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 156: 233-243.

    American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 798-808.

    Deer, Howie, Zussman (1997): Vol. 2A: 586-599.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 590.

    Internet Links for Rhodochrosite

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  • Look for Rhodochrosite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Rhodochrosite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Rhodochrosite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Rhodochrosite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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