Within geology there are stones for various functions according to their mineral composition. Rhodochrosite does not escape it, scholars affirm that it is recognized by the amount of manganese with which it is constituted. Those who have a special connection with the earth express that the «Rose of the Inca»name by which it is also known, It is considered as the rock that attracts love and lovers.
Rhodochrosite is a rare mineral of the fifth group belonging to carbonates according to the Strunz classification.. This code, created in 1938 by the German mineralogist Karl Hugo Strunz, is universally used in mineralogy to base it on the chemical composition of minerals.
It is creditor of a characteristic reddish pink color, it is rarely found, which falls in love. Depending on the impurities it has, the hue of this mineral varies from pink to light brown. It has the form of obtuse rhombohedra with double refraction. Sometimes curvilinear with a marked lenticular shape and, although infrequent, crystallized.
The etymology of its name derives from the Greek «ródon», which translated into Spanish refers to the color pink. It has various uses in chemistry it has a place because it is a rich source of manganese. In the decorative, it is used to make pieces of jewelry and ornamentation.especially in the Argentine Republic where it is considered a National Stone.
The first descriptions of the mineral in the eighteenth century of Our Era, fall on Baron Axel Fredrik CronstedtSwedish mineralogist and chemist who is credited with discovering nickel in 1751, and also the Swedish chemist, Torbern Olof Bergmanrecognized for his contributions to the systematization of chemistry and mineralogy.
Subsequently In 1806, the French mineralogist and founder of crystallography, René Just Haüydescribed the rock under the term «carbonated oxidized manganese».
Found in Germany, Argentina, Canada, USA, England, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Romania and South Africa, this mineral is used mainly in mystical rites in South America. In this region It is considered the stone that attracts love and lovers, according to their pagan beliefs..
hundreds of years agorhodochrosite was used by the ancient Inca civilization in South America long before the so-called meeting of two worlds on October 12, 1492, unlike the European culture that recognized it as a mineral from its rational and not emotional perception.
The Rose of the Inca was found in places near the house of the Emperor of the Inca Empire, thanks to its use in love and its color, they baptized it with that name. This manganese carbonate, It was also known as the stone of love and balance.for this reason it is divinized in the sacred city of Machu Picchu, located in the province of Urubamba, department of Cuzco, Peru.
It is not surprising that of all the precious stones, It is also known as «rescue stone»motivated by the existing association with the warrior goddesses that protected women and families, according to the Inca culture.