The rhodocrosite is a mineral of the calcite group. It owes its beautiful pink colour to manganese. It forms in stalactites, opaque or nearly so, with a banded structructure similar to malachite. The pink bands can alternate with pinkish-white or yellowish-white fringes.
The best quality stones come from Argentina. Other rhodocrosites are found in the USA, the Urals and Rumania.
