Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate with a vivid pink, rose and red color derived from manganese. Its descriptive name comes from the Greek words rhodon ('rose') and chroma ('color').

Fine-grained, banded rhodochrosite became a popular ornamental stone during the 1930s, and this is often carved into decorative objects like figurines. Native Americans used to offer the stone as a token of love, and it was also worshipped as a holy stone.