This specimen weighs 8.42 grams. It measures 20 mm x 15 mm.

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Hi there. I am selling this Rare Banded Rhodochrosite carved egg from Argentina. This is from a stalactite, or perhaps a stalagmite which formed as water dripped within a cave depositing minerals as the water evaporated. Over thousands of years these minerals build up, layer upon layer to form stalactites and stalagmites. If you slice though one of these formations you can see the layers. This piece has been polished where it was cut to reveal the banded layers. The layer can change color as the minerals within the water change over time. These rhodochrosite pieces are really rare and are becoming harder and harder to find. Thanks so much for visiting my store and have a great day!

The following is information about this mineral from wikipedia:
RhodochrositeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to searchRhodochrositeRhodochrosite on Matrix - Peru.jpgGeneralCategory Carbonate mineralsFormula(repeating unit) MnCO3IMA symbol Rds[1]Strunz classification 5.AB.05Crystal system TrigonalCrystal class Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m)H-M symbol: (3 2/m)Space group R3cUnit cell a = 4.777, c = 15.67 [Å]; Z = 6IdentificationFormula mass 114.95 g/molColor Pink, rose, rose-red, red, cherry-red, yellow, yellowish gray, gray, cinnamon-brown, white, may be banded; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.Crystal habit Rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals; also commonly bladed, columnar, stalactitic, botryoidal, granular or massiveTwinning On {1012} as contact and lamellarCleavage On {1011} perfect; parting on {1012}Fracture Uneven, conchoidalTenacity BrittleMohs scale hardness 3.5–4Luster Vitreous to pearlyStreak WhiteDiaphaneity Transparent to translucentSpecific gravity 3.7Optical properties Uniaxial (-)Refractive index nω = 1.814–1.816 nε = 1.596–1.598Birefringence δ = 0.218Pleochroism weakUltraviolet fluorescence NoneReferences [2][3][4]Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral with chemical composition MnCO3. In its (rare) pure form, it is typically a rose-red color, but impure specimens can be shades of pink to pale brown. It streaks white, and its Mohs hardness varies between 3.5 and 4. Its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.7. It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and cleaves with rhombohedral carbonate cleavage in three directions. Crystal twinning often is present. It is transparent to translucent with refractive indices of nω=1.814 to 1.816, nε=1.596 to 1.598. It is often confused with the manganese silicate, rhodonite, but is distinctly softer. It is officially listed as one of the National symbols of Argentina.
Rhodochrosite forms a complete solid solution series with iron carbonate (siderite). Calcium, (as well as magnesium and zinc, to a limited extent) frequently substitutes for manganese in the structure, leading to lighter shades of red and pink, depending on the degree of substitution. It is for this reason that the most common color encountered is pink.

Contents1 Occurrence and discovery2 Use3 Culture4 Gallery5 See also6 ReferencesOccurrence and discoveryRhodochrosite occurs as a hydrothermal vein mineral along with other manganese minerals in low temperature ore deposits as in the silver mines of Romania where it was first found. Banded rhodochrosite is mined in Capillitas, Argentina.
It was first described in 1813 in reference to a sample from Cavnic, Maramureş, present-day Romania. According to Dimitrescu and Radulescu, 1966 and to Papp, 1997, this mineral was described for the first time in Sacaramb, Romania, not in Cavnic, Romania. The name is derived from the Greek word ῥοδόχρως meaning rose-colored[citation needed].
Use
This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)Its main use is as an ore of manganese, which is a key component of low-cost stainless steel formulations and certain aluminium alloys. Quality banded specimens are often used for decorative stones and jewelry. Due to its being relatively soft, and having perfect cleavage, it is very difficult to cut, and therefore rarely found faceted in jewelry.
Manganese carbonate is extremely destructive to the amalgamation process used in the concentration of silver ores, and were often discarded on the mine dump.
CultureStereo imageLeft frame Right frame Rhodochrosite3d.jpgParallel view (Stereogram guide parallel.png)Cross-eye view (Stereogram guide cross-eyed.png)Small Rhodochrosite specimen featured in a mineral kit, from Wuton mine, Guangxi prov, China.Rhodochrosite is Argentina's "national gemstone".[5][6] Colorado officially named rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002.[7]
It is sometimes called "Rosa del Inca", "Inca Rose" or Rosinca.[8]