China

Our October Mineral of the Month will be manganoan calcite from the Manaoshan manganese-iron mine in China.  These calcite specimens contain about 10 percent manganese that imparts a delicate and subtle pink color.  Each consists of massive manganoan calcite completely covered with small, but very well-developed, sharp-edged, lustrous dogtooth crystals.  One look at the delightful, soft pink color of these specimens and you will know why the Manaoshan Mine has in recent years been one of the world’s leading sources of manganoan calcite.