Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mine of Sweet Home, Alma Co, Colorado, USA
SIZE : 4 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm

This is an isolated crystal of rhodochrosite. It is a splendid red rhombohedron. This sample comes from the mineral deposit of Sweet Home, Colorado in USA.

The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle could obtain this specimen thanks to support fromTotal. It is today kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire,
© MNHN.

SPECIE : Rhodochrosite

HISTORY : Name inspired by the Greek word "ρ-οδοσ" [rhodos] meaning "rose" and by "χρoσισ" [chrosis] meaning "colouring"

Species descibed in 1813 by Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann (1782-1859), german mineralogist

Type-locality: Kavnic (Kapnikbanya), Maramures, Roumania

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Mn2+ CO3
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Rhomboedric
COLOR : Pink, red
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous, pearly
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals forming scalénohedras, stalactiform aggregates
HARDNESS : 3,5-4,0
DENSITY : 3,7

CHEMICAL CLASS : V - Carbonates, nitrates
GROUP : Calcite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 5/B.02-50
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 5.AB.05

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Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite

MNHN N°193.5

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