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Color: Red with black veins
Chemical composition: MnSiO3 magnesium metasilicate
Mohs’ hardness: 5 ½-6 ½
Transparency: Opaque-transparent
Luster: Vitreous
Fracture: Uneven, conchoidal
Crystal system: Triclinic; rarely in plates or long crystals, usually compact grainy aggregates
Cleavage: Perfect
Specific gravity: 3.40-3.70
Refractive index: 1.733-1.744
Dispersion: none
Pleochroism: Definite; yellow-red, rose-red, red-yellow
Fluorescence: None
Occurrence: Australia, Canada (Vancouver), India, Malagasy Republic, Mexico, Russia (the Urals), South Africa, Sweden, United States (Franklin, New Jersey)
Astrology:
Chakra: 4th (heart) chakra
Like rhodochrosite, rhodonite’s name comes from the Greek rhodos, which means rose. The two rose-red minerals have often been confused, but rhodochrosite shows white streaks of calcium and reacts to acids. Rhodonite, which does not react to acids, can usually be distinguished by its black dendritic inclusions, which are manganese oxide. (Occasionally, rhodonite will be solid rose-red, showing none of the black.) Transparent or translucent rhodonite crystals are extremely rare and fragile. Most rhodonite is cut in cabochons or beads. It’s also been carved for ornamental objects and was a favorite material of the Russian court during the 18th century.
Considered a minor gem, there isn’t much historical lore about rhodonite, but it’s been widely embraced by the metaphysical gem healers, who connect the stone with the heart. Rhodonite is said to clear and activate the heart chakra, help balance the emotions, and aid one in becoming more heart-centered. It’s also used to strength meditation that is based on the use of mantras. As a healing stone, rhodonite is said to be particularly effective when dealing with grief or emotional shock or panic. It’s considered a stone that can help heal old psychic and emotional wounds, because its energy is attuned to the energy of forgiveness. In magical traditions, rhodonite has also been worn to counter confusion and to shut down the psychic centers when one is feeling vulnerable.
Rhodonite beads are perfect when strung with either black onyx or black, white, or grey pearls. Rhodonite also goes well with its sister gem, rhodochrosite. To add sparkle to rhodonite beads, string them with pink tourmaline, cherry quartz, red garnets, and/or ruby. For other opaque stones that echo and will complement the black patterns in rhodonite, combine rhodonite beads with any of the black agates or hypersthene. |
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