Rodocrosita
Rodocrosita is a mineral with formula MnCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Davidkovo, Banite, Smolyan, Bulgaria and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Pink rhodochrosite crystals on greenish-grey matrix. Natural cavities host well-formed crystals alongside small transparent quartz crystals that add lustre and definition. The surface is covered by microcrystals of scaly, silky habit, with a visual aspect reminiscent of candyfloss.
About Rodocrosita
This manganese carbonate comes from Bulgaria, where it usually occurs in carpets of small rosettes that in fact correspond to very compact botryoids, themselves formed by tiny lamellar crystals less than 0.5 mm.
About the locality
Davidkovo is a village in the central Rhodopes, in southern Bulgaria. Its mineralogical interest derives from the vein field around the village, with several small deposits, notably Starnitsa. There occur pink-toned rhodochrosites, often associated with quartz, sulphides and stilbite, an uncommon combination that gives these pieces more locality interest than the status of a great world classic.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0052
- Composition
- MnCO₃
- Name
- Rodocrosita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Mine
- Davidkovo
- District / Municipality
- Banite
- Province
- Smolyan
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Size (cm)
- 4.5 x 3.5 x 3.5
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From the Greek "rhodon" (ῥόδον), meaning "rose", and "chros" (χρῶς), meaning "colour". It refers directly to the characteristic pink hue of the mineral.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
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- Aragonito — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul) — Italia