MnCO₃
Rhodochrosite
Manganese carbonate, banded pink, 3.5 to 4, and the Sweet Home mine in Colorado grew the clear rhombs.
- Formula
- MnCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5–4
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- pink
- Element
- water
- Chakra (tradition)
- heart
- Zodiac
- Leo, Scorpio
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- Argentina, United States, South Africa
What it actually is
Rhodochrosite is MnCO₃ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 3.5–4, and the eye meets pink.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Argentina, United States, South Africa. Manganese carbonate, banded pink, 3.5 to 4, and the Sweet Home mine in Colorado grew the clear rhombs.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Rhodochrosite to water and to the heart centre. The old site stood it near: Leo, Scorpio.
How not to turn it to ash
Softer than a steel knife. No ultrasonic bath, no acid, no sudden heat. Dust wants a dry cloth.