Description
Mangano calcite, also called manganoan calcite, is a manganese calcium carbonate mineral belonging to the calcite family. Its color ranges from light to dark pink, depending on the manganese content. It is not uncommon for this crystal to contain white calcite inclusions, sometimes in banded patterns. A. Breithaupt first discovered this mineral in 1846 in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia, and named it after the presence of manganese. This led to a debate over the definition of mangano calcite versus simply pink calcite. Ultimately, a threshold of 30% manganese carbonate in the crystal structure was adopted as the standard. Unfortunately, any pink calcite on the market today is often sold as "Mangano calcite," making it difficult to find the genuine mineral. It is advisable to buy from a reputable supplier or retailer. A tip is to trace the origin, which helps determine authenticity. Most manganocalcite today comes from countries such as Romania, Peru, Bulgaria, Mexico, Madagascar, Russia, Australia and Japan.
