Name/Title
RhodoniteEntry/Object ID
2015.1.2Description
Chemical Composition: SiO2
Crystal System: Triclinic System
Description: Common Name: Rhodonite
Chemistry: (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg,Ca)SiO3
Group: Silicates
Location: Alaska
Description: A Rhodonite sphere and base (polished). Colors are pink, green, brown and tan.
Physical Charateristics:
Rhodonite is a manganese inosilicate, (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3 and member of the pyroxenoid group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system. It commonly occurs as cleavable to compact masses with a rose-red color (the name comes from the Greek ??d?? rhodos, rosy), often tending to brown because of surface oxidation.
Rhodonite crystals often have a thick tabular habit, but are rare. It has a perfect, prismatic cleavage, almost at right angles. The hardness is 5.5–6.5, and the specific gravity 3.4–3.7; luster is vitreous, being less frequently pearly on cleavage surfaces. The manganese is often partly replaced by iron, magnesium, calcium, and sometimes zinc which may sometimes be present in considerable amounts; a greyish-brown variety containing as much as 20% of calcium oxide is called bustamite; fowlerite is a zinciferous variety containing 7% of zinc oxide.
Fracture: Conchoidal
Hardness: 7 Quartz
Luster: Pearly
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.68-2.72
Streak: WhiteCollection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2013.1Source or Donor
Crater Rock Museum (Misc. donors)Acquisition Method
GiftDimensions
Diameter
3-1/2 inDimension Notes
Base is 2 1/2" sq.Location
Location
* Untyped Location
DS-11Room
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Ian C.Date
January 21, 2025Notes
USA Case InstallationLocation
Display Case
DS-10Room
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
May 9, 2023Notes
Added current location while cleaning shelf