Some gemstone names are so well known that nobody has any doubt what they mean. A few of these are Diamond, Emerald and Ruby. Then there's the gemstones or semi-precious stones that are easy to confuse or that sound so much the same, that it's hard to keep them straight. The Rhodo...somethings are an example of this. Hopefully this article will help clear up any confusion. So, here we go:
Rhodolite
RhodoliteĀ is a garnet mineral with the chemical formula {Mg3Al2(SiO4)3}. It is typically a purplish-red color, but it can also be shades of pink to brown. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, a density of 3.7 to 4.3 g/cm3, and an isometric crystal system. Rhodolite is a relatively rare mineral, but it has been found in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. It is often used as a gemstone and ornamental stone.
Rhodonite
RhodoniteĀ is a manganese inosilicate mineral with the chemical formula (Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)SiO3. It is typically a rose-red color, but it can also be shades of pink to brown. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, a density of 3.6 to 3.8 g/cm3, and a triclinic crystal system. Rhodonite is a relatively common mineral, but it has been found in many parts of the world, including Russia, Sweden, Madagascar, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and the USA. It is often used as a gemstone and ornamental stone.
Rhodolite used in in the Sticks and Stones necklace.Ā
Rhodochrosite
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RhodochrositeĀ is a manganese carbonate mineral with the chemical formula MnCO3. It is typically a rose-red color, but it can also be shades of pink to pale brown. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4, a density of 3.45 to 3.6 g/cm3, and a rhombohedral crystal system. Rhodochrosite is a relatively rare mineral, but it has been found in many parts of the world, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. It is often mined as an ore of manganese, but it is also used as a gemstone and ornamental stone.