Mtorolite Stone

Mtorodite (also Mtorolite) is a trade name (marketing term) for a rare green, chromium-bearing variety of Chalcedony, named for the locality where it was discovered near the mining town of Mtoroshanga, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. Mtorodite, also known as Mtorolite or Chrome-Chalcedony, is a variety of Chalcedony colored by small quantities of chromium. Mtorodite is similar in appearance to the better known Chrysoprase, but differs in that Mtorodite is colored by chromium (as chromium oxide) while Chrysoprase is colored by nickel. The two can be distinguished with a Chelsea color filter, as Mtorodite (chrome Chalcedony) will appear red, and Chrysoprase will appear green. Mtorodite, unlike Chrysoprase, may also contain tiny black specks of chromite. Mtorodite, along with Agate, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Heliotrope (blood stone), Onyx and others, are all varieties of Chalcedony which is a cryptocrystalline form of Quartz. Chrome Chalcedony from Bolivia is often called “Chiquitanita” after the Chiquitos Provnce where it is found.