rhodochrosite

noun

rho·​do·​chro·​site ˌrō-də-ˈkrō-ˌsīt 

: a rose-red mineral consisting essentially of manganese carbonate

Examples of rhodochrosite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Colorado rhodochrosite is one of the top attractions in the Oct. 18 auction — featuring gemstones from across the globe — and has the fourth-highest starting bid of all the gems available. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024

According to Kucera, the Sweet Home Mine produced some of the finest rhodochrosite in the world and has been the most important Colorado rhodochrosite producer since 1895. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Rhodochrosit, from Greek rhodóchrōs or rhodóchroos "rose-colored" (from rhodo- rhodo- + -chrōs, -chroos, adjectival derivatives of chrṓs "skin, flesh, complexion, color") + German -it -ite entry 1 — more at -chrome

Note: The mineral was named by the German mineralogist Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann (1782-1859) in Handbuch der Mineralogie, 1. Band (Göttingen, 1813), pp. 1081-82.

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above