Handmade Rhodochrosite Pendant

Pretty rhodochrosite pendant mounted in a handmade silver setting.

A slightly translucent pinkish red coloured stone that's well polished.    

Despite its popularity as a gemstone, rhodochrosite is relatively soft.  Most commercial grade material used for decorative purposes is opaque and comes from South America.

Individual well formed crystals are extremely rare.  Rhodochrosite is more commonly found in massive form.  In this habit crystals grow as one large tightly intergrown mass.

Giant stalactites of rhodochrosite have been found in the Capillitas mine in north eastern Argentina.