One of the most beautiful minerals is rhodonite stone. It is bright and memorable due to its color. It is manganese silicate, but with various impurities. The color of the stone is determined by their quantity and quality. Rhodonite can be cherry-pink, crimson, red. But most often it is not monochromatic, but with inclusions of other colors - black, yellow, brown. There are specimens in gray shades. The fewer impurities, the purer the original color.
The degree of transparency also varies - from translucent to opaque. Maximum transparency - pure rhodonite. As a rule, the mineral is mined in the form of rhodonite rock, the crafts from which are mostly opaque. But it contains nests of pure rhodonite, which resembles a ruby in color.
Varieties and colors
Rhodonite is one of the most beautiful ornamental stones, second in popularity after malachite. The name of the mineral fully corresponds to its soft natural energy and delicate color scheme.
It comes from the Greek word rhodon, translated meaning “rose”. Less poetic gemologists (specialists in the study of stones) have identified several varieties of rhodonite, focusing on its elegant colors.
- Lilac with purple splashes: cobalt rhodonite (rare and the youngest type of stone discovered by scientists).
- Intense red, from scarlet to crimson, without foreign inclusions: ruby rhodonite. In value and beauty it is almost as good as ruby. Valued by magicians and jewelers.
- Pink with yellow speckles (due to zinc): fowlerite.
- Pink with extensive black spots: mourning eagle or mourning rhodonite. An ornamental variety of gem used for making tombstones, memorials and monuments.
- Single color rose petal colored stone: pink rhodonite. For its delicate color it received the romantic name “stone of dawn”. Jewelry variety of gem.
- Rich pink, striped (with black, brown, gray inclusions): ribbon rhodonite.
- Pink, with tree-like (dendritic) inclusions: bustamite. A beautiful gem with a pattern reminiscent of moss or the thickets of an enchanted forest.
- From soft pink to crimson, with multi-colored inclusions throughout the surface: spotted rhodonite.
Interesting Facts
The Urals brought rhodonite worldwide fame. No deposit in the world has gems of such a juicy, bright, delicate color. The design on the stone attracts the eye and evokes incredible associations. It is not for nothing that Academician A. Fersman said that rhodonite is the second stone that the Urals can be proud of. It is not difficult to guess that the first stone is malachite.
Rhodonite was used to decorate the columns at the Mayakovskaya metro station in Moscow.
Rhodonite is the official stone of the state of Massachusetts (USA).
In St. Petersburg, in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, there is a unique sarcophagus weighing 7 tons, carved from a single piece of rhodonite, the original weight of which was 47 tons.
Rhodonite is the stone of autumn. Remember the rowan berries on already bare trees, and you will agree with this.
In the Middle and Southern Urals there are about 25 deposits and occurrences of orlets. Many of them stretch in a chain from north to south along the left and right banks of the Ural River.
In the Hermitage you can see a rhodonite vase in the shape of a huge font.
Magic properties
General magical properties of rhodonite:
- attracts true, selfless love;
- develops talents; gives inspiration, helps to realize oneself in art;
- protects from negative emotions, from damage and the evil eye;
- protects reputation from gossip;
- helps to find true friends and recognize traitors;
- attracts money to the house.
Interesting! A thief will never break into a house where there is an eagle figurine. The stone has strong protective properties and promotes the harmonization of family relationships. Therefore, products made from it are usually given as wedding gifts.
Brief characteristics of the gem
Rhodonite is called manganese silicate; its structure also contains other impurities of silicon dioxide and calcium and iron oxide. Precisely formed gems are rare.
It is formed due to volcanic activity, during the interaction of magma with manganese-enriched sedimentary and carbonate rocks.
The history of the mineral is not very interesting
Rhodonite is a mineral that occurs in the form of dense, spar-like, coarse-crystalline aggregates. The stone has a heterogeneous structure and can turn black when heated, and does not dissolve in acids. It can be easily cut and polished, which is why its surface can acquire a mirror polish. The gem contains black inclusions and veins of manganese hydroxide.
The physical and chemical properties of rhodonite stone are presented in the table.
Chemical formula | Mn2+SiO3 |
singonia | triclinic |
Color | pink, red, red-brown |
Stroke color | white |
Transparency | opaque, translucent, transparent |
Shine | matte, glass, pearlescent |
Density | 3.57-3.76 g/cm3 |
Cleavage | perfect |
Hardness (Mohs scale) | 5,5-6,5 |
Kink | uneven, conchoidal |
Rhodonite is characterized by pronounced pleochroism - from red-yellow to pink-red.
The description of the romantic stone was given a long time ago
Who is suitable for the properties of rhodonite stone?
Rhodonite is called the “stone of Venus”, associating it with the soft feminine principle, embodied in the principle of Universal Harmony.
- The goddess of love and beauty patronizes people of creative professions, artists and cultural figures, free artists, writers and poets. Worn as a talisman, the “stone of dawn” awakens inspiration in a person, so wearing it is recommended for everyone who creates something with their own hands or mind.
- Another category of people to whom we can recommend the eagle (a variety with a fancy black pattern) are lonely boys and girls looking for their happiness. Rhodonite not only makes the owner attractive, but also helps to find the “soul mate” predicted by fate.
Physical and chemical properties
At its core, rhodonite is a manganese silicate. This element gives the stone its color; the more of it, the richer the shade. The mineral is formed in carbonate rocks.
Color palette: all shades of pink. Rhodonite can be easily identified by its color.
The stone lends itself well to processing and, after polishing, acquires a mirror shine. On the Mohs hardness scale it is 5-5.5, like glass. Rhodonite is usually opaque, but rare translucent and completely transparent specimens are found. They are especially valued by jewelers and collectors.
Orlets belongs to the same group as jasper, malachite or lapis lazuli - semi-precious ornamental stones.
Rhodonite and the signs of the Zodiac
Being a stone of the Air element, as well as a talisman of Venus, rhodonite does not conflict with anyone.
Only representatives of the zodiac Fire will not receive any benefit from the gem. Change
Zodiac sign | Element | Compatibility | Sphere of influence |
Aries | Fire | Low (not suitable) | Energy does not combine with the aggressive element of Fire. |
Taurus | Earth | Average | Attracting love, sympathy and friendship, beauty, health. |
Twins | Air | Absolute compatibility | Harmonization of personality, disclosure of creative abilities, increased self-esteem, health. |
Cancer | Water | High | Personal growth, self-esteem, overcoming self-doubt, developing intuition, extrasensory perception. |
a lion | Fire | Average | Health, fighting shortcomings, overcoming laziness, unleashing creative potential, career growth. |
Virgo | Earth | Average | Stress resistance, increased self-esteem, development of communication skills, harmonization of relationships. |
Scales | Air | High | An objective view of the world, creativity, overcoming self-doubt, fulfillment of desires. |
Scorpion | Water | Average | Unlocking creative potential, harmonizing relationships, attracting the attention of the opposite sex. |
Sagittarius | Fire | Low (not suitable) | Energy does not combine with the aggressive element of Fire |
Capricorn | Earth | Average | The fight against excessive conservatism, softening of character, career growth. |
Aquarius | Air | High | Travel, new projects, extraordinary abilities, personal growth, career, health, protection. |
Fish | Water | Average | Revealing extrasensory abilities, harmonizing family relationships, attracting love and good luck. |
Therapeutic effect: description of properties
Representatives of oriental medicine claim that rhodonite is a healing stone, and its power is so great that it can cure cancer. An interesting opinion about the relationship between stone and vision. It is believed that a few minutes with pebbles on closed eyelids a day will be enough to cure and prevent the development of a number of eye diseases. The beneficial effects of rhodonite on liver function have been proven.
This is all that can be said about the unique pink pebble. If you were interested, share the post with your friends and discuss the details of interacting with the gem in real life!
Team LyubiKamni
How to charge a stone
It is better to cleanse and activate rhodonite using the elemental magic of Water, since the stone has soft, feminine energy. Before starting the ritual, take the talisman in your hand, bring it to your lips and tell it what you expect from the object of power.
To activate the talisman, prepare in advance:
- pottery with spring water;
- salt to mark the boundaries of the magic circle and cleanse the stone.
Arrangement of items: Use salt to form a circle of power and place the talisman in the center. Facing north, dip the fingers of your right hand into a bowl of water and sprinkle it over the stone. Say a spell over the surface of the future talisman:
“Water is characterized by fluidity and variability. Water gives peace and protection, dissolves negative energies. Water is the power of emotions, sensuality, beauty. With drops of living spring water, I endow the stone with its gifts: flexibility of thinking, inspiration, subtle intuition and spiritual purity. I bless this stone with the power of Water!”
Types of rhodonite
For rhodonite, according to color characteristics, several subspecies are distinguished:
- Fowlerites – contain yellow-brown inclusions.
- Ribbon rhodonites - with alternating pink, brown and gray stripes.
- Bustamites have a pinkish-gray cut with a pronounced black dendritic pattern.
- “Mourning rhodonite” – contains more black color; monuments and tombstones are often made from it.
How to wear amulets and jewelry with a stone
How and why to wear rhodonite:
- a ring with an eagle is worn on the left hand to increase self-esteem, unleash creativity and attract inspiration;
- a pink stone bracelet will help cope with insomnia, irritation, laziness, strengthen the mind and develop public speaking abilities;
- pendant or necklace – love amulet;
- a stone figurine will cleanse the house of negative energy, and at the same time of thieves.
Important! You should not wear damaged stones that have cracks or chips. It is also prohibited to wear talismans below the waist.
Rhodonite deposits
The first known rhodolite deposits were discovered in the Urals at the end of the 18th century.
Today the mineral is mined in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales) and Madagascar. In addition, its suppliers are Spain, England, USA, Mexico, Japan, and Central Asian countries. — Advertising —
In general, rhodonite is one of the minerals widespread in nature. Its formation occurs through the transformation of carbonate sediments, which tend to accumulate manganese in the form of carbonate or oxide along with chalcedony. During metamorphism, these compounds turn into rhodonites, bustamites and tephroites. In addition, the formation of rhodonite occurs in polymetallic deposits at points of contact between limestone and granitoid or on cracks in limestone.
How to distinguish from a fake
Counterfeits are easy to distinguish from the original:
- fake stone is lighter than natural stone;
- the fake quickly heats up in the hand, but the rhodonite remains cool;
- the natural pattern of the stone, formed by inclusions of various rocks, is difficult to convey reliably; focus on the naturalness of lines and spots.
Whatever type of rhodonite you choose as your talisman, the stone will bring you happiness. An extremely friendly gem will find a common language with everyone, and with its help you will find love and friendship.
How to properly care for rhodonite
Rhodonite is a jewelry stone from a group of soft rock formations. That is why it is so important to follow certain rules for wearing and caring for products with it. The main requirement is a delicate attitude towards the mineral. Manganese silicate is resistant to high temperatures and chemical attack, but this does not mean that it needs to be stored in the sun without a box, but cleaned with chemicals.
Treat rhodonite with care and it will answer you in kind. Clean the pebble from time to time with a soft cloth and soapy water, store it in a box with soft upholstery, it is acceptable to be in proximity to other stones, but it must also be from the category of soft minerals.
Branches of application of rhodonite
Rhodonite is used as an ornamental and jewelry stone.
Particularly popular are its samples with black dendrites and veins of manganese hydroxides and oxides, with brown areas of bustamites, fibrous inesites and other inclusions. All of them give the mineral “landscape patterns”, which look very attractive in jewelry. At the same time, a large number of manganese oxides and hydroxides in rhodonite increase its porosity and reduce its strength. Rhodonite is also exposed to air moisture, and at high humidity it can completely turn black. It is important to consider these properties when making and purchasing jewelry with gems.
During weathering of rhodonite rocks, manganese ores are formed.
Prices for rhodonite products
The price for a high quality raw stone with a dendritic pattern is approximately $10 per kg, pink rhodonite is valued at $9 per kg, and other types are approximately $5 per kg.
Jewelry with processed inserts costs much more. For example, beads are estimated at 20-30 dollars, the cost of silver earrings is about 70 dollars.