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Rhodonite [abbr. Rdn ]

Redefined in 2019. Rhodonite described before 2019 corresponds to Rhodonite group.

Year of discovery: 1819 (Kaiser Franz mine (König Wilhelm mine), Germany), 1895 (Japan)

Locality list: It is considered that there are many localities of rhodonite (sensu stricto) but they have not been described yet.

• CaMn₄Si₅O₁₅
• (Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)SiO₃
• [Ca²⁺][Mn²⁺₃][Mn²⁺][Si₅O₁₅]^10-

• Class: Rhodonite group < 5-periodic < Pyroxenoid
• Class: Inosilicate (Single chain)
• Soluble in: HCl (Slightly)
• Magnetism: Paramagnetic
• Alter to Cryptomelane by weathering.

• Ca => Mn: Vittinkiite, Pyroxmangite

• Mn => Fe: Ferrorhodonite

• Color: Red, Pink, Reddish brown
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous, Pearly
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Thick tabular

• Cleavage: Perfect on {110} and {1-10} (2 planes), Good on {001} (1 plane)
• Hardness: 5.5-6.5
• Density: 3.6

• System: Triclinic
• Group: (-1), P(-1)
• Lattice: a=9.8, b=10.5, c=12.2, α=108.6, β=102.9, γ=82.5

Etymology: Rhodon (Rose) in Greek