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The rose-red to raspberry-red Rhodochrosite is a gemstone from the mineral class of carbonates and nitrates. With a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4.5, it is quite soft and can be worked with a knife.
Rhodochrosite is used as a raw material due to its high manganese content, but it is best known for use as a gemstone. Like Agate, Rhodochrosite is banded, and it is especially enhanced by the cabochon cut.
Fact Sheet
The name Rhodochrosite comes from the Greek οδον (Rodon) for rose or rosy and Χρώς (chros) for color. The current name Rhodochrosite was given in 1813 by Friedrich Hausmann, a German geologist, mineralogist and soil scientist. Abraham Gottlob Werner, also a German mineralogist, had already referred to the stone in the 18th century as Manganspar. The name Rose Spar, Rosenspat, was coined by the German mineralogist August Breithaupt, who found the term Rhodochrosite difficult to pronounce.
Mineral class: Carbonate Chemical formula: Mn[CO3]
Compound: manganese carbonate
The markings and grain of the stone are particularly enhanced in an oval or round cabochon cut.
While an intense, dark color in most gemstones raises the value and price, this is not the case with Rhodochrosite. Still, pale pink pieces are the cheapest. On the other hand, the most precious stones are those of a medium color intensity, with vivid colors. On average, the Rhodochrosite prices per carat are as follows: The value of gemstones always depends on the purity, the color, the cut and the weight or carat weight (ct). Find out more about the quality features of gemstones.
