Rhodochrosite - Cut Face - Rough

Locality: Uchucchacua Mine, Oyón Province, Lima Department, Peru

Description: A single chunk of banded Peruvian rhodochrosite with one face sawn flat to show its internal layering and jagged, crystal-lined growth zones, while the other sides keep their natural rough surface. A thin dark brown-black manganese-oxide layer runs along the base. Uchucchacua is a high-altitude silver mine in the Andes, near 4,500 m, and one of Peru's largest silver producers. Its ore is a manganese-rich system, so alongside silver minerals the veins carry rhodochrosite, alabandite and other manganese minerals, deposited by hot fluids moving through limestone. As the fluid chemistry shifted, it left alternating bands of pink rhodochrosite, paler carbonate and dark oxides, and where open space was left, small rhombohedral crystals grew into it.

Rhodochrosite gets its pink to rose-red colour from manganese. It is soft (3.5–4), cleaves easily and is sensitive to heat and acid, so it should be cut and cleaned gently. In tradition it is known as the Inca Rose, and modern crystal lore links it with love, compassion and the heart chakra. These are traditional beliefs, not established properties.

Chemical Composition: MnCO₃ (manganese carbonate), calcite group; Mohs hardness 3.5–4

Grade: Precious
Appearance: Opaque, translucent at thin edges
Treatment: Natural, untreated

Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.
The face is not polished; just cut.

Rough is rough. We do our best to grade and describe pieces, but ultimately, every stone differs.