Inca rose
Variety MnCO3
Also called Rosinca
About it
Banded pink and white rhodochrosite cut from stalactites at the Capillitas mine in Catamarca, Argentina, said to have been worked by the Incas. Slices show rings like tree growth; Argentina's national stone.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Rhodochrosite variety
- Formula
- MnCO3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4
- Specific gravity
- 3.5–3.7
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), pearly
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- rose pink, red, with white or pale bands
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect rhombohedral in three directions
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.