In stone form it's a gorgeous mineral that ranges from opaque pink to red. Sometimes it can also be transparent. As a powder it tends to be a pale pink. It is a source of manganese, so handle with care. A bit more technical information may be found from Kremer Pigments.
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Rhodochrosite Mineral
Rhodochrosite
Alternate Names
Manganese Carbonate
Manganese Spar
Dialogite
Pigment Description
Resources
CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (n.d., accessed June 2025). Rhodochrosite https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Rhodochrosite. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Reyes, Mark G.G. (2024, August 3). All About Colored Stones: Rhodochrosite https://www.igi.org/colored-stones-rhodochrosite/. International Gemological Institute
Stats
Lightfastness
Excellent
Excellent, with highest marks (all 8's) on the BWS
Toxicity
Potential hazard. Toxic by inhalation, also contains manganese
Contains manganese. Toxic by inhalation. We have heard anecdotal horror stories of working with manganese in powdered form. Please consult health and safety experts for handling. Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.
Chemical Name
Manganese carbonate
MnCO₃
Dry Pigments listing Rhodochrosite
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