Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite generally forms granular or compact microcrystalline aggregates, concretionary or botryoidal. Generally pink to orange-red in colour. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid only when hot, it is not fusible and is relatively hard.

It forms above all in hydrothermal metalliferous veins and in the alteration zones of manganese deposits.

It is used for the extraction of manganese, but in some cases, when it is particularly transparent, it is used in jewellery.