Rhodonite: a Rose in a Rock

       Rhodonite is a pink-colored mineral that is usually found in a massive habit. When a mineral is said to have a massive habit that means that it forms in lumps with no distinct shape. Rhodonite is occasionally found in crystalline form, but the crystals are usually very fragile. Rhodonite is also known to form as stalactites on other rocks.
      Rhodonite is a somewhat popular gemstone these days. It is usually cut as a cabochon (a shape that resembles a lens) and I have noticed that it is usually set in silver. Pink and red rhodonites are used for jewelry, but samples with black lines of manganese oxide running through them are most popular. Rhodonite is also the state gemstone of Colorado where it can be found and is a popular stone for jewelers. Elsewhere in the nation the stone remains a little less popular because it is not well known.
     Despite its name rhodonite does not contain any of the element rhodium in its molecular makeup; rhodonite is a manganese silicate. The name actually derives from the Greek word rhodos, which means rose. The name refers to the rhodonite's pink color. One of the pieces that I have in my collection is filled with little silver speckles at its center. These might be silver or perhaps pure, leftover, manganese metal that did not react, but I do not know.
     The most prominent sources of rhodonite around the world include the Ukraine, the Australian state of New South Wales, and Colorado. It is an interesting material and I am glad to have a few samples in my collection.