Rhodochrosite

Formula: MnCO3

Origin of name: from Greek for rose and colour

 

Crystal system: hexagonal

Crystal class: -3 2/m

Twinning: rare on {01-12} lamellar

Unit cell: a = 4.78 Å, c = 15.67 Å

 

Colour: pale pink to deep red, orangish red, yellowish gray, tan, brown

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: vitreous, pearly

Habit: crystals rhombohedral, rarely prismatic, scalenohedral or thick tabular, massive, compact to coarse granular, stalactitic

Hardness: 3.5 to 4

Specific gravity: 3.70

Cleavage: 2; {10-11} perfect, {01-12} parting

Tenacity: conchoidal to uneven, brittle

Streak: 

 

Synonyms/varieties: dialogite

 

Comments: series with calcite and siderite

 

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