Rhodochrosite is a beautiful stone, usually in varying colors and patterns of pinks.  However, there is what is known as Brown or Coffee Rhodochrosite which have varying colors of browns with the same patterns of stripes and bands.

There is man-made synthetic material that is sold for beading.  No one wants to pay for a gemstone they believe is Rhodochrosite which can be a expensive stone to buy, then receive a man-made version or even a reconstructed stone.  Reconstructed stones are a mixture of the crushed stone mixed with acrylic resin.

Sometimes misidentified as Rhodochrosite is Rhodonite, Tugtupite, or dyed banded calcite, in their opaque form.  Opaque is the solid and transparent is the see through form of gemstone.