Geologist and petrologists are very interested in minerals that contain elements with two different oxidation states. It represents a mineral that formed as the oxidation of the original material was taking place and its temperature and pressure of formation can then give clues to the conditions that were present during oxidation. Rockbridgeite forms a series with the mineral frondelite . A series occurs when two or more elements can freely substitute for each other without significant alteration of the structure. In this case, rockbridgeite is a ferrous iron rich mineral and frondelite is the manganese rich member of the series.
Color is brown, dark green, yellow-brown or black.
Luster is varied from vitreous to dull or earthy. Specimens are translucent to transparent. Crystal Habits include prismatic to tabular crystals, but often botryoidal, reniform, encrusting, massive and fibrous. Cleavage is poor. Fracture is uneven.