Rhodonite are identified by it’s bright rose color.

Chemical Formula: (Mg1Ca)5(Si5O15)
Class: Manganese Silicate
Hardness: 6
Coloration: Rose Pink to Red

How to identify it/Unique Characteristics or Properties: Rhodonite ranges from fairly large crystals to a very fine grained stone. It is recognizable by it’s bright rose color. It usually has black streaks as the manganese in it oxidizes. Sometimes that can block the color itself. Rhodonite also fractures very unevenly.

Where to find it in…

The Northwest: N/A
Other: India, Canada, Russia, Sweden, England.
Past Uses: In some places it is used as a manganese ore, but mainly for jewelry.
How it was Made: Forms in hydrothermal veins associated with lead and silver.
Interesting Facts: Oddly enough, rhodonite leaves a white streak in the streak test.