Rhodonite

Rhodonite comes from the Greek rhodos = rose. It was first named after its colour in 1819 by the Ilsenburg metallurgical plant director Christoph Friedrich Jasche. Obsolete synonyms for rhodonite are allagite, heteroclinic, manganese silica or reddish brown stone.

It is found in Switzerland, Russia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia and the USA.

Rhodonite is pink to dark pink, colourless to brownish, sometimes with yellow veins of spessartine.


Mineral class of chain silicates
Formula: CaMn4(Si5O15) + Al,Ba,Cu,Fe,Li,K,Na,S,Zn

Mohs hardness: 5.5 - 6.5
Density: 3.4 - 3.7
cleavage: perfect, uneven fracture
Stroke colour: white
Transparency: translucent to opaque

Healing properties
Wound healing, helps to forgive, promotes understanding