Judging quality
Look for strong rose pink with striking black dendritic veining and a high polish. Faded, brownish material is common.
Silicate
Rhodonite
Pink manganese silicate laced with black manganese oxide veining. Harder and far more durable than rhodochrosite, which makes it the better carving stone.
Care
Durable enough for everyday handling. Soap and water.
History & lore
Ural rhodonite was used for the two-tonne sarcophagus of Empress Maria Alexandrovna in St Petersburg.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Rhodonite
- What is Rhodonite?
- Pink manganese silicate laced with black manganese oxide veining. Harder and far more durable than rhodochrosite, which makes it the better carving stone.
- How hard is Rhodonite and what is it made of?
- Rhodonite is a Silicate-family mineral with the composition MnSiO3. It crystallizes in the triclinic system and rates 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in pink, black.
- Where does Rhodonite come from?
- Notable localities for Rhodonite include Russia (Urals), Australia, Peru, Madagascar.
- How do you tell good Rhodonite from filler?
- Look for strong rose pink with striking black dendritic veining and a high polish. Faded, brownish material is common.
- How do you care for Rhodonite?
- Durable enough for everyday handling. Soap and water.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.