Ruri Rocks’ 10th and 11th episodes gave us railway-related rockhounding and a return to the sapphire hunt. But it also highlighted a disturbing lack of Nagi-san, which I find quite saddening. Yet, over the past two episodes, Nagi’s absence served as the perfect catalyst for Ruri and Imari’s growth. By this point in any anime season, most shows have fallen by the wayside. But Ruri no Houseki has managed to keep its sparkly brilliance well into the season’s twilight.
Due to the lateness of this review, I’ll skip the usual synopsis and focus on the aspects of the episodes that deserve a closer look. After all, Ruri Rocks has consistently explained everything it needs to about mineralogy and geology eloquently. But as I mentioned earlier, rockhounding is one of my favorite hobbies. Plus, I believe that one should always take any opportunity to geek out about the things they love.
Ruri Rocks, Episode 10 — Sentence to an Abandoned Railroad
I don’t have many positive memories from my teenage years, but searching for feral pot along Chicago’s train tracks is one of them. Even back then, when though I was oblivious to the natural world and mineralogy, I couldn’t help but marvel at the occasional odd rock I found. My companions would tell me that the little treasures I quickly pocketed probably fell out of an ore car. How could an anime hating, seventeen-year-old me, think that one day I’d be giddily recalling those days because an anime about kawaii girls rockhounding triggered the memory? You really never know where life will take you.
Imari would agree, as their seemingly straightforward quest for an abandoned Showa-era manganese mine quickly ran into issues. Despite the initial setback of being unable to reach the mine, Imari and the gang find the manganese ore they were searching for. And they even stumble on rhodonite and rhodochrosite.
Episode 10’s Mineral Corner
Ruri Rocks, episode 9, might seem like one of the slower episodes of the series. But there’s an exceedingly important detail that any aspiring mineralogist or rockhound should heed: how minerals and ores interact with their environment. In a previous review, I mentioned that exploring abandoned mines comes with risks. When air and water interact with minerals, their byproducts can be harmful to your health or the environment.
Even if something isn’t currently known to be dangerous, that status can change, so always handle things with caution. There have been many instances where minerals once considered harmless turned out to be harmful. The most well-known example is asbestos, which was used in everything from insulation to cigarette filters. Therefore, it’s pertinent to study how minerals oxidize, transform, or degrade over time.
To give a quick primer on the minerals featured in this episode, let’s talk about rhodonite and rhodochrosite! Both minerals originate from manganese. The key difference lies in their composition: rhodonite is a manganese inosilicate (MnSiO₃), while rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate (MnCO₃). Rhodonite often appears veined, whereas rhodochrosite tends to show a banded appearance. A kawaii fact is that both can claim to be the official gemstone of a place: Massachusetts calls rhodonite its official gemstone, and Argentina claims rhodochrosite.
Ruri Rocks, Episode 11 — The Sapphire Cradle
I’ve complained before about the lack of eye protection in Ruri no Houseki, and now I can add ear protection to the list! Always remember: tinnitus follows the researcher who uses rock saws without earplugs.
The lead-up to Ruri Rocks’ second visit to the sapphire fields was a search for host rocks. Like a drunk painter trying to portray an acid trip, nature creates a vast array of colors from a limited palette and location. With Ruri intrigued by host rocks and the color differences in minerals harvested from the same area, her mind quickly goes to her beloved sapphires. Wanting to know what the host rock for her favorite gem might be, she hypes up the group for another mineral hunt. Despite her self-deprecating thoughts, her curiosity pushes her to figure out why the sapphires they find aren’t all the same.
Had I reviewed this episode sooner, I would have dedicated a whole article to it. Most people would be surprised by the overlap between seemingly different skills. Likewise, many never consider that they possess a quality they thought was absent from their lives. Up to this point, we’ve seen Ruri change from her temper tantrum-prone self in the first few episodes. Since then, she’s grown both personally and professionally. Yet, despite that, Ruri still views herself as an outsider to the group. In her mind, she’s just chasing “pretty rocks.” Everyone around her (and viewers alike) would disagree.
What Ruri perceives in herself isn’t what’s really there. Unfortunately, introspection requires seeing yourself from multiple perspectives to visualize what’s really within. Most people struggle with that. Here’s hoping the way she views herself shifts in the next two episodes.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©Keiichiro Shibuya/KADOKAWA/”Ruri’s Jewels” Production Committee
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