Mangano Calcite, nice rough pieces from Helmand, Afghanistan.

Mangano Calcite, also known as Manganoan Calcite, is a manganese calcium carbonate mineral and member of the calcite family. The color can range from light to dark pink, depending on the amount of manganese in it. It is common to have white inclusions of calcite in this crystal, sometimes in band formation. This mineral was first discovered in 1846 by A. Breithaupt in Banská, Štiavnica, Slovakia. He named it in reference to the incorporation of manganese found in it, sparking a debate as to what really is mangano-calcite compared to what is plain pink calcite. Finally agreement was reached and a threshold of 30% manganese (carbonate) in the crystal structure was established. Unfortunately, every type of pink calcite sold in the market today is referred to as "Mangano Calcite", making it very difficult to obtain this mineral. We recommend purchasing from a secure supplier or trusted storefront. One of the pieces of advice we offer is to know where it comes from so that you can better identify whether a piece is authentic or not. Most of the mangano calcite on the market comes from Romania, Peru, Bulgaria, Mexico, Madagascar, Russia, Australia and Japan.