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Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color, but impure specimens can be shades of pink to pale brown. It streaks white, and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4. Its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.7.
It has perfect cleavage in three directions and a Mohs Hardness of only 3.5 to 4. The Sweet Home Mine is now closed and material from that locality is very hard to get. There are a few other mines in Colorado that produce rhodochrosite; however, none of them are close to matching the quality of the Sweet Home Mine.