Rhodonite
Species
Uncommon · CaMn₄Si₅O₁₅
A manganese and calcium silicate of manganese deposits, formed by hydrothermal fluids, by contact or regional metamorphism, or in sediments. Rose-pink to red, and commonly veined or crusted with black manganese oxides. Transparent gem crystals come from Broken Hill in Australia and Minas Gerais in Brazil.
Identity
- Formula
- CaMn₄Si₅O₁₅
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Mineral group
- Pectolite
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Habits
- Massive, Tabular, Granular
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.57 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Colors
- pink, red, reddish brown, gray
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Geology
- Origins
- Metamorphic, Hydrothermal, Sedimentary
- Host rocks
- Schist and gneiss, Marble
- Associated minerals
- Calcite, tephroite, Magnetite, willemite
- Geography
- Russia, USA, Sweden, Australia, Peru
Classification
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Gem quality
- Yes
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- Rhodonite. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Rhodonite. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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