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UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral species · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Rhodochrosite
Also known asInca rose
A manganese carbonate mineral species with formula MnCO3; its GB/T basic name is Rhodochrosite, and in the trade it is often called by a Chinese name meaning "red-striped stone". This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Rhodochrosite forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify RhodochrositeHow far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of Rhodochrosite1 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing RhodochrositeCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them; durability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of RhodochrositeEach value with its source and check date
- Rhodochrosite in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name, names in national standards; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of RhodochrositeWhere the name comes from; how people have used it
- Listing and disclosing RhodochrositeThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define RhodochrositeWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Rhodochrosite is the manganese carbonate MnCO3 and a member of the calcite group. It appears chiefly as a primary mineral within hydrothermal veins of low to moderate temperature, in metamorphic deposits, commonly in carbonatites, as an authigenic and secondary phase in sediments, and only rarely in granite pegmatites. The mineral is pink to rose-red or cherry-red and may show banding; the Capillitas mine in Catamarca Province, Argentina, is a celebrated source of ornamental banded material. Solid-solution series link it with calcite and with siderite.
Scope: Covers the origin, occurrence and composition of rhodochrosite as a natural manganese carbonate mineral; does not address synthetic rhodochrosite or trade names for specific cut gemstones.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy · G&G Spring 2023 · CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Where it forms
Hydrothermal veins of low to moderate temperature; deposits of metamorphic origin; carbonatites; sediments in which the mineral is authigenic or secondary; granite pegmatites (rare).
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
The banded ornamental-material deposit at the Capillitas mine, Catamarca Province, Argentina; associated with calcite, siderite, dolomite, fluorite, quartz, rhodonite, garnet, and others
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
How it forms, step by step
In low- to moderate-temperature hydrothermal fluids, manganese combines with carbonate and precipitates within veins to form primary rhodochrosite.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
In metamorphic deposits, carbonatites, and authigenic/secondary settings in sediments, rhodochrosite also crystallizes or precipitates through the corresponding geological processes.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Rhodochrosite may form bladed, columnar, stalactitic, botryoidal, stalagmitic, or compact granular aggregates; at deposits such as the Capillitas mine, repeated precipitation builds the banded ornamental material.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Link to appearance
Rhodochrosite's pink, rose-red, to cherry-red color is related to its manganese carbonate (MnCO3) composition, with yellow and brown transitional hues; overlapping pulses of precipitation produce the internal banding responsible for its banded appearance.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy · CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Timescale
The sources do not state an absolute geological timescale or age for rhodochrosite formation.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy · G&G Spring 2023 · CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Supporting findings
Rhodochrosite arises as a primary mineral within hydrothermal veins of low to moderate temperature, and it is additionally found in metamorphic deposits, is widespread in carbonatites, occurs as an authigenic and secondary phase in sediments, and is only rarely present in granite pegmatites.
Evidence grade BScope: Applies to natural rhodochrosite occurrences; excludes synthetic material.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
A large deposit of ornamental banded rhodochrosite material occurs at the Capillitas mine in Catamarca Province, Argentina.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes the occurrence at this locality; does not assess output or commercial quality.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
Africa
- Kalahari Manganese Field (Hotazel, N'Chwaning), Northern Cape, South Africa
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997 · Handbook of Mineralogy
Europe
- RomaniaMassive material
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997
- GermanyMassive material
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997
North America
- Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park County, Colorado, United StatesMost important source of fine specimens and faceted stones
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997 · Handbook of Mineralogy
- Cananea and Santa Eulalia districts, MexicoMassive material
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997
South America
- Capillitas mine, Catamarca, ArgentinaBanded massive ornamental material, the type traditionally seen in the trade; mine name per HoM
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997 · Handbook of Mineralogy
- Pasto Bueno, Ancash, Peru
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997 · Handbook of Mineralogy
Oceania
- Southeastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania)Massive material
Sources Gems & Gemology Summer 1997
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
Rhodochrosite is pink to rose-red to cherry-red (also yellow and brown) and may be banded; the color relates to its manganese carbonate (MnCO3) composition, while the banding results from overlapping precipitation pulses.
Evidence grade BScope: Only links color to the MnCO3 composition and banding; the specific coloring mechanism (color centers/charge transfer) is not elaborated by the source.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Where the name comes from
Rhodochrosite joins two Greek elements: rhodon, meaning "rose", and chrosis, denoting "colouring".
Evidence grade BScope: This states only the origin of the name and does not establish the material's composition, locality, natural origin, or whether it was treated.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Human use and museum objects
Long before modern times, Argentina’s Incas are reported to have regarded rhodochrosite as the blood of their rulers, solidified after they fell.
Evidence grade AScope: Concerns cultural-historical use and legend; not geological formation, nor an identification basis.
Sources G&G Spring 2023
Other research findings
Rhodochrosite has the formula MnCO3 and belongs to the calcite group, forming a solid-solution series with calcite and another with siderite.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes formula, group, and solid-solution series; does not address specific end-member proportions.
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
The mineral first entered the mineralogical literature in 1813, when specimens from what is now Romania were described.
Evidence grade AScope: Concerns scientific history; it is the date of the literature description, not the age of formation.
Sources G&G Spring 2023
Under the CIBJO definition, only materials formed completely by nature without human intervention qualify as 'natural'; rhodochrosite, as a natural mineral species, satisfies this identity boundary.
Evidence grade AScope: Defines its status as a natural material; does not assess locality or quality grade.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The sources do not state an absolute geological timescale or age for rhodochrosite formation.
- The specific coloring mechanism (color centers, charge transfer, or trace elements) is not elaborated; the sources only record the link between color and the MnCO3 composition and banding.
- Formation P-T conditions and the periodicity of banding are not quantified in these sources.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Rhodochrosite
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2 “Rhodochrosite” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.195 “Rhodochrosite”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Filled / Fracture-filled
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Rhodochrosite is Rhodochrosite (MnCO3); use "Rhodochrosite" for listings, and disclose any known treatments.
Evidence
- GB/T · Table A.2, row 菱锰矿 (Rhodochrosite)
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Rhodochrosite" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
Normal care for every gemstone (CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.1), in brief:
- Handle it gently.
- Store pieces apart when not worn, so they cannot scratch each other.
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Use ultrasonic cleaners only with caution.
The §6.1 wording and the full list of §6.2 special-care letters cited on this page are on the general gem care page.
Care
Rhodochrosite — care (cleaning): Some stones are susceptible to damage from ultrasonic cleaning. Do not expose them to ultrasonic cleaning.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code j
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Rhodochrosite, p.73; §6.2 j (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Rhodochrosite — care (chemicals): Some stones are particularly susceptible to attack by acids. Keep them away from acids.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code h
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Rhodochrosite, p.73; §6.2 h (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Rhodochrosite — care (wear): low hardness, so it scratches easily; wear with care; cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle (e.g. rubbed facet edges); wear with care.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code a, special-care code b
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Rhodochrosite, p.73; §6.2 a, b (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Common care questions and matching entries
CleaningAccording to the care record for the Rhodochrosite entry in the CIBJO Official Gemstone Book (2022): for cleaning, Rhodochrosite must not be cleaned ultrasonically, in any treatment state; for chemicals, Rhodochrosite is particularly sensitive to acids and should be kept away from them, in any treatment state; for wear, Rhodochrosite is soft and scratches easily, so wear it with care, and it breaks easily, so wear it with care, in any treatment state. General careGeneral care that applies to all gemstones is in the general care section of the materials index page.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Question | Matching entries |
|---|---|
| Can it go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner? | care (cleaning) |
| Contact with acids, alkalis and household chemicals | care (chemicals) |
| Wearing limits (knocks, settings) | low hardness, so it scratches easily; wear with care; cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle (e.g. rubbed facet edges); wear with care |
Durability and wearing
Treatments and identification leads
Registered treatmentsThe treatment registered for Rhodochrosite is filling, with the status treated. Values not givenStability and prevalence are given as “—” in the register, meaning the cited source gives no value, not “none”. Identification cluesThe identification leads for filling include: under magnification the filled areas have a lustre different from the host and contain gas bubbles; under long-wave and short-wave UV light the filled areas often fluoresce differently from the host; the infrared spectrum shows the filler's characteristic absorption bands; and luminescence imaging equipment such as a UV fluorescence viewer can show where the filler lies. The source for filling is GB/T 16553—2017.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Filled / Fracture-filled
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1; JJA/AGL 2025
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Besides Rhodochrosite, the name register records "Inca rose" and "Rhodochrosite", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded (JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 p.16); 2 further names in non-Latin scripts are listed in the name register below (2 with no restriction recorded on use as a name).
Standard and listing namesThe GB/T 16552—2017 standard name for Rhodochrosite is rhodochrosite (Table A.2), its common trade name is a Chinese name meaning “red-banded stone”, and the suggested listing name is Rhodochrosite (with that trade name). Names in four languagesNames are registered in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Rhodochrosite) and Japanese. Candidate search termsThe GSJ (Japan) formal name is the same as the Japanese name, and the JJA/AGL (Japan) 2025 handbook also registers Inca rose as a market name, with its Japanese transliteration used only as a candidate search term. National standard namesGermany (RAL) uses Rhodochrosit and the EU uses Rhodochrosite. Institution usageOn authority wording, CIBJO records Rhodochrosite, the FTC text on file has no wording for this name (checked), and GIA and Gem-A are unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name is Rhodochrosite (MnCO3).
Name register
Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Name | Type | Matching | Use as a name | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no restriction recorded (4) | ||||
| Inca roseEnglish | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 p.16 |
| RhodochrositeEnglish | synonym | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited) |
| インカローズJapanese | transliteration | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 p.16 |
| 红纹石Simplified Chinese | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Commonly used trade name. |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- ロードクロサイト／菱マンガン鉱
- Chinese formal name
- 菱锰矿 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2)
- Mineralogical name
- Rhodochrosite (MnCO3)
- Trade names and synonyms
- Inca rose (market name)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 菱锰矿
- 繁體中文
- 菱錳礦
- English
- Rhodochrosite
- 日本語
- ロードクロサイト／菱マンガン鉱
National and regional formal names
- Germany (RAL)
- Rhodochrosit
- European Union
- Rhodochrosite
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Carbonate minerals
- Identity tier
- Mineral species
- Mineral chemical class
- Carbonates
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Rhodochrosite” (p.16):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
JJA/AGL (Japan) table of principal gem names, 2025
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Gem name | Species | Colour | Listed in the table | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodochrosite | Rhodochrosite | (single crystal) pink | an untreated tier is listed | also called Inca rose |
| Rhodochrosite | Rhodochrosite | (microcrystalline) | an untreated tier is listed | also called Inca rose |
JJA/AGL definitions and nomenclature (2025 revision), table of principal gem names, p.16
How to read the JJA/AGL table: see the Gem treatments page.
What it is and how it's identified
Registered material facts for Rhodochrosite include: composition MnCO3, possibly containing Fe, Ca, Zn, Mg and other elements, phase rhodochrosite; crystalline or a crystalline aggregate, trigonal, with rhombohedral crystals, commonly granular or columnar aggregates, cryptocrystalline material mostly nodular, oolitic or reniform. Mohs hardness has two sources: GB/T 16553—2017 gives 3–5, and the Handbook of Mineralogy gives 3.5–4. There are three perfect cleavages, generally not visible in aggregates; toughness, untreated, is registered as perfect cleavage, brittle. Density is 3.45–3.7 g/cm³, worked out from the cited clause's 3.60 with a stated tolerance of +0.10, −0.15. Optic character is anisotropic, uniaxial, optically negative, often an anisotropic aggregate; refractive index 1.594–1.82, worked out from the cited clause's 1.597–1.817 with a stated tolerance of ±0.003; birefringence is registered as 0.22, with a site note that the clause also gives finer sub-ranges and the overall value is registered. Untreated, pleochroism is moderate to strong, orange-yellow and red, not measurable in aggregates; untreated, the lustre is vitreous to subvitreous.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Rhodochrosite — nomenclature status: IMA status A: approved (accepted by the IMA after it was set up in 1958).
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Rhodochrosite — composition (chemistry): MnCO3, elements such as Fe,Ca,Zn and Mg may be contained.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — composition (phase): rhodochrosite
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Structure
Rhodochrosite — structure (overall): crystalline, or else a crystalline aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — structure (crystal system): trigonal
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — structure (crystal habit): Crystals are rhombohedral; most material is granular or columnar aggregate, or cryptocrystalline aggregate in nodular, oolitic or kidney-shaped form.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-22)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Durability
Mohs hardness2 sources compared
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
Rhodochrosite — Mohs hardness: 3–5
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Rhodochrosite — Mohs hardness: 3.5–4
Handbook of Mineralogy
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- Handbook of Mineralogy — Rhodochrosite (Mineral Data Publishing): p. 1, Physical Properties (locator checked 2026-09-20)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Rhodochrosite — cleavage: three directions of perfect cleavage, which aggregates usually do not show.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — toughness: cleavage perfect; tenacity brittle
Handbook of Mineralogy
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- Handbook of Mineralogy — Rhodochrosite (Mineral Data Publishing): p. 1, Physical Properties (locator checked 2026-09-20)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Physical properties
Rhodochrosite — density: 3.45–3.7 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 3.60, with a stated tolerance of +0.10 / -0.15. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Rhodochrosite — optic character: uniaxial, optically negative (anisotropic); usually an anisotropic aggregate.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — refractive index: 1.594–1.82
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 1.597–1.817, with a stated tolerance of ±0.003. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — birefringence: 0.22
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- General note
- the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — transparency: translucent to opaque. Also occurs in transparent pink to dark red.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Rhodochrosite — pleochroism: medium to strong, in orange-yellow or red; cannot be measured on aggregates.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — fluorescence (long-wave UV): none to moderate, pink
GB/T 16553—2017
UV fluorescence (long-wave UV)pinknone–moderateDots are illustrative colours built from the colour names, not measured values
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — fluorescence (short-wave UV): none to weak, red
GB/T 16553—2017
UV fluorescence (short-wave UV)rednone–weakDots are illustrative colours built from the colour names, not measured values
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — spectrum (UV-visible): 410 nm weak absorption band; 450 nm weak absorption band; 540 nm weak absorption band.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — spectrum (infrared): Vibration of the carbonate ion produces diagnostic bands in the mid-IR
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — magnification: gas-liquid inclusions, mineral inclusions, cleavage, pronounced doubling (high birefringence), aggregate of cryptocrystalline or granular structure, banded or layered structure.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
body colour2 sources compared
Rhodochrosite — body colour: pink; white, grey, brown or yellow streaks usually appear on the pink ground; transparent crystals may be deep red.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Chicken-blood Stone, Brucite, Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl and other variety clauses also name red or a reddish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Rhodochrosite — body colour: Usually pink, in a banded pattern with layers of pink and light pink or white, translucent to opaque. Also occurs in transparent pink to dark red.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Coral, Thulite, Albite and other entries also name pink or a pinkish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
How the sources relate
- GB/T 16553—2017 and CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Both describe a mainly pink material, often banded or streaked with white or other light colours, with transparent material reaching deep red. GB/T 16553—2017 also lists grey, brown and yellow streaks; the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book also lists light pink bands.
Quality factors
Rhodochrosite — quality factor (lustre): vitreous to sub-vitreous
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.707 / 3.58; Closest values: 1Taaffeite 1.721 / 3.61, 2Cobalt Spinel 1.723 / 3.63, 3Sinhalite 1.688 / 3.48, 4Vesuvianite / Idocrase 1.711 / 3.38, 5Hydrogrossular 1.7 / 3.35
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
The tests the CIBJO laboratory protocol requires for this material, and what each method means, are in the protocol table on the laboratory testing page: §6.1.66.
How far testing can go
Rhodochrosite that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from the host jade and gas bubbles show in the filled area; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the host jade; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (UV fluorescence viewer and similar) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.20 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Rhodochrosite — what the CIBJO laboratory protocol says to watch for: easy cleavage single crystal material
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Rhodochrosite — notes on test methods in the CIBJO laboratory protocol:
| Test method | What the protocol notes for it |
|---|---|
| Refractometer (refractive index): | Upper limit outside range |
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Rhodochrosite is defined directly in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the term Rhodochrosite; the visible content describes a typically pink material, translucent to opaque, banded with alternating pink and pale pink or white layers; the cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO and also appears in the GB/T annex. A second entry, based on the IMA Mineral List entry, records Rhodochrosite, Mn(CO3), A 1962, cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list, which is public domain data.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodochrosite | 7.2.1.195 | Usually pink, in a banded pattern with layers of pink and light pink or white, translucent to opaque. Also occurs in transparent pink to dark red | Defined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex. |
| Rhodochrosite | IMA Mineral List entry | Rhodochrosite Mn(CO3) A 1962 | Cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list (public domain data). |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Carbonate minerals | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Filled / Fracture-filled | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Rhodochrosite entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.