rhodochrosite

noun

rho·do·chro·site ˌrō-də-ˈkrō-ˌsīt

: a rose-red mineral consisting essentially of manganese carbonate

Examples of rhodochrosite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Colorado rhodochrosite is one of the top attractions in the Oct. 18 auction — featuring gemstones from across the globe — and has the fourth-highest starting bid of all the gems available. —

Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024 According to Kucera, the Sweet Home Mine produced some of the finest rhodochrosite in the world and has been the most important Colorado rhodochrosite producer since 1895. —

Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhodochrosite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Rhodochrosit, from Greek rhodóchrōs or rhodóchroos "rose-colored" (from rhodo- rhodo- + -chrōs, -chroos, adjectival derivatives of chrṓs "skin, flesh, complexion, color") + German -it -ite entry 1 — more at -chrome

Note: The mineral was named by the German mineralogist Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann (1782-1859) in Handbuch der Mineralogie, 1. Band (Göttingen, 1813), pp. 1081-82.

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rhodochrosite was in 1823

See more words from the same year