Short answer: rhodonite is a manganese silicate mineral, rose pink to red, usually laced with black veins of manganese oxide. Its name comes from the Greek rhodon, "rose". It rates 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, takes a fine polish, and is the official gemstone of Massachusetts. It is often confused with rhodochrosite, a softer pink carbonate.
What is rhodonite?
Rhodonite is a manganese inosilicate with the formula (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3. It belongs to the pyroxenoid group, minerals built from single chains of silica, and it crystallizes in the triclinic system.
The manganese is what makes it pink. Most rhodonite is found as compact, granular masses rather than crystals. Well-formed crystals do occur, sometimes transparent and deep red, but they are uncommon and prized by collectors.
The name, first introduced by the mineralogist Germar, comes from the Greek word for rose, after the mineral's color.
Why does rhodonite have black veins?
Manganese is easily altered where it meets air and water. Near the surface, some of the manganese in and around rhodonite oxidizes to black manganese oxides. These fill cracks and coat surfaces, which is why rough rhodonite often looks black on the outside and why polished pieces show black veins, webs and patches through the pink.
Those veins are part of the stone, not damage. Patterns range from fine black lace to bold dark patches, and many buyers choose a piece for its veining as much as its pink.
Where does rhodonite come from?
Rhodonite has a long history as a decorative stone in Russia. In the 1800s, the main deposits worked for ornamental stone were near Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. A block of Ural rhodonite was used for the tomb of Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna, completed in 1906 in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.
Other sources include Sweden, where small brilliant crystals occur in the iron and manganese mines of Värmland, Peru, and the United States, including the famous zinc mines at Franklin, New Jersey. Massachusetts named rhodonite its official state gemstone.
What is rhodonite traditionally associated with?
In modern crystal traditions, rhodonite is associated with compassion, forgiveness and emotional balance in relationships, perhaps because its pink is shot through with black. It is often linked with the heart chakra, and with love and kindness toward others.
These are traditional associations and beliefs. They are part of why people choose rhodonite, not measurable properties of the mineral.
Rhodonite vs rhodochrosite: what is the difference?
The names and colors are close, and both are manganese minerals, but they are different stones.
| Rhodonite | Rhodochrosite | |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral type | Silicate | Carbonate (MnCO3) |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 5.5 to 6.5 | 3.5 to 4 |
| Typical look | Pink to red with black veins | Pink with white or paler pink bands |
| Black veins | Common | Rare |
| Banding | Rare | Common, in curved stripes |
The quickest clues are the black veins, which point to rhodonite, and curved pink and white bands, which point to rhodochrosite. Rhodochrosite is much softer: a steel blade scratches it easily. As a carbonate, it also reacts with acids, so it needs more careful cleaning.
Raw, tumbled and polished rhodonite
Raw rhodonite is often dull and dark on the outside, with pink showing only where it is broken. Polishing reveals the full color and the black pattern. Tumbled stones, eggs, hearts and palm stones are common, as are spheres and freeforms that show the veining across a broad surface. Transparent crystals are a collector's specialty rather than a decorative material.
Rhodonite crystals and named varieties
Most rhodonite is massive, but crystals do occur, and collectors seek them out.
- Pajsbergite is the name for the small, brilliant, translucent rhodonite crystals from the iron and manganese mines of Pajsberg and Långban in Värmland, Sweden.
- Fowlerite is a variety of rhodonite containing zinc and calcium, found as large crystals at Franklin, New Jersey.
- Peruvian rhodonite, including fine specimens from the Huallanca district of Ancash, can form well-shaped pink to red crystals on matrix.
Is rhodonite rare?
Massive rhodonite, the pink and black material used for beads, spheres, carvings and tumbled stones, is widely available and affordable. Well-formed rhodonite crystals are a different matter: they are rare, and clean, transparent, deep red crystals on matrix are prized by collectors.
How do you choose a rhodonite piece?
- Color: an even rose to raspberry pink is the classic look. Some buyers prefer more black veining, others a cleaner pink.
- Pattern: fine, web-like black veins are especially popular for spheres and cabochons.
- Polish: a good polish shows the pink brightly and the veins crisply. Dull or pitted areas are often softer manganese oxide.
- Soundness: look for cracks running along the two cleavage directions, which can make a piece fragile.
Rhodonite jewelry
Rhodonite is used for beads, cabochons and carved pendants. It is reasonably hard, but it has perfect cleavage in two directions, so it can chip if knocked. Beads and pendants wear well. Rings need a protective setting.
How do you care for rhodonite?
- Clean it with lukewarm water and mild soap, then dry it.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and acids, which can dull the polish and attack the black manganese veins.
- Avoid hard knocks. Its cleavage means it can chip along flat planes.
- Store it apart from harder stones such as quartz, which can scratch the polish.
How can you tell real rhodonite?
- Look for the black veins. Most natural rhodonite has some dark manganese oxide veining or patches.
- Check the color. Natural rhodonite is a rose to raspberry pink. Very bright or uniform pink with no texture can mean dye or glass.
- Feel the weight. With a specific gravity of about 3.5, rhodonite is noticeably heavier than glass or quartz of the same size.
- Check the hardness. Rhodonite resists a steel blade better than rhodochrosite does.
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Frequently asked questions
What is rhodonite traditionally associated with?
In crystal traditions it is associated with compassion, forgiveness and balance in relationships, and with the heart chakra. These are traditional meanings rather than measurable properties.
Is rhodonite the same as rhodochrosite?
No. Rhodonite is a harder silicate with black veins. Rhodochrosite is a softer carbonate with curved pink and white bands. Both are pink because of manganese.
Can rhodonite go in water?
Brief contact with lukewarm water and mild soap is a safe way to clean it. Dry it afterward, and avoid soaking it or using acids and harsh cleaners.
Why is the outside of raw rhodonite black?
Near the surface, manganese in and around the rhodonite oxidizes to black manganese oxides. The coating hides the pink until the stone is broken or polished.
Is rhodonite a state gemstone?
Yes. Rhodonite is the official gemstone of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Where does the best rhodonite come from?
Fine ornamental rhodonite has long come from the Ural Mountains near Yekaterinburg in Russia. Collectors prize crystals from Sweden, where they are known as pajsbergite, from Franklin, New Jersey, where the zinc-bearing variety fowlerite occurs, and from Peru.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Rhodonite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodonite
- Geology.com, Rhodonite: https://geology.com/minerals/rhodonite.shtml
- Wikipedia, Rhodochrosite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodochrosite