Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Sweet Home Mine, Alma Co, Colorado, USA
SIZE : 15 x 14 x 7 cm

The crystals are bright red and gemmeous at some spots. They have icy facets. Their edge size 4 cm.

This group of rhodochrosite crystals come from Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, USA. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

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°194.5

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