PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- GROUP Silicates - inosilicates
- COMPOSITION (Mn,Ca)5(Si5O15)
- COLOR From pink to red
- CRYSTALLINE SYSTEM Triclinic
- CRYSTALLINE HABIT Tabular
- HARDNESS 6
- FRACTURE From conchoidal to unequal
- EXFOLIATION Perfect
- GLOSS Vitreous
- STRIP White
- TRANSPARENCY Translucent
- SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.5 - 3.7
- REFRACTIVE INDEX 1.71 - 1.73
MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Rhodonite is a manganese silicate. Its name comes from the Greek "rhodon", which means "pink", referring to the characteristic color of the mineral. It usually has inclusions of dark minerals of manganese and pyrite.
The rhodonite usually appears in the form of spathe and compact, and rarely forms tabular crystals. It appears in metamorphic manganese deposits and in metalliferous deposits.
Deposits: Russia, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and England.
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
The rhodonite symbolizes friendship. It is used to balance the heart chakra and to ground energy. It is a stone that encourages forgiveness and reconciliation. It favors the resolution of conflicts and states of codependency and helps to clean "wounds" from the past. In cases of shock or emotional trauma it can be used as a first aid stone.
