Mineral description : Rhodonite

Rhodonite from Harstigen. Rhodonite from Garpenberg.

Mineral class Silicates : Neosilicates : Braunite group

Chemical formula CaMn₄(Si₅O₁₅)

Crystal system Triclinic

Habitus Crystals tabular with rounded edges. Mostly as grainy or compact masses.

Cleavage Perfect prismatic in 90 degrees, conchoidal to uneven fracture.

Hardness 5.5-6.5

Density 3.57-3.76

Color Pink to rose red and brownish red. Often with a black surface of manganese oxide.

Streak White.

Luster Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces.

Description

Occurance In metamorphic rocks rich in manganese.
As a scarn mineral of manganese ores.

Associates

Notes Insoluble in hydrochloric acid.
Fuses easily, leaving a red to brownish red glassy substance.

Locations A common mineral in the Värmlandic manganese mines.

Långban, Värmland. As stalky grainy masses with schefferite, tephroite and richterite.
Harstigen, Värmland. As crystal up to 2 cm in calcite filled rooms.
Sjögruvan, Grythyttan. As fist sized compact light red rhodonite.
Also in : The Nordmark mines. Gladtjärnsgruvan, Lindesberg. Norberg mining field. Dannemora mine, Uppland.

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Last changed : 1998-03-07

Mineral class	Silicates : Neosilicates : Braunite group
Chemical formula	CaMn₄(Si₅O₁₅)
Crystal system	Triclinic
Habitus	Crystals tabular with rounded edges. Mostly as grainy or compact masses.
Cleavage	Perfect prismatic in 90 degrees, conchoidal to uneven fracture.
Hardness	5.5-6.5
Density	3.57-3.76
Color	Pink to rose red and brownish red. Often with a black surface of manganese oxide.
Streak	White.
Luster	Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces.
Description
Occurance	In metamorphic rocks rich in manganese. As a scarn mineral of manganese ores.
Associates
Notes	Insoluble in hydrochloric acid. Fuses easily, leaving a red to brownish red glassy substance.
Locations	A common mineral in the Värmlandic manganese mines. Långban, Värmland. As stalky grainy masses with schefferite, tephroite and richterite. Harstigen, Värmland. As crystal up to 2 cm in calcite filled rooms. Sjögruvan, Grythyttan. As fist sized compact light red rhodonite. Also in : The Nordmark mines. Gladtjärnsgruvan, Lindesberg. Norberg mining field. Dannemora mine, Uppland.