Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
Home Other GeoPicture

GeoPicture of the Week: Rhodochrosite Stalagmite ‘jawbreaker’

This mineral looks so delicious, I could gobble it up like candy!

by Tibi Puiu
November 24, 2015
in GeoPicture
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Rhodochrosite Stalagmite

This mineral looks so delicious, I could gobble it up like candy! It’s calleda Rhodochrosite Stalagmite, meaning it’s a Rhodochrosite formed as a stalagmite. Rhodochrosite are maybe the most famous minerals because of their red and hot pink allure. The mineral belongs to the calcite group of minerals, a group of related carbonates that are isomorphous with one another. Like all calcites, it crystallizes in the trigonal system, have perfect rhombohedral cleavage, and exhibit strong double refraction.

This particular Rhodochrosite is considered an oddity. It’s only found in Argentina, particularly in the ancient Inca Silver Mines where Rhodochrosite form as stalagmites and stalactites. According to minerals.net, these “formed from precipitating water dripping from the manganese-rich rock inside the ancient mine tunnels, and kept on growing over the centuries into large stalagmites. These stalagmites are beautifully banded with concentric growth layers and are often sliced and polished into slabs for collectors”.

ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.