Rhodochrosite

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Excellent cluster of prismatic, GEMMY rhodochrosite crystals up to 3 cm on length from famous finds of the early 1980s at this famous Kalahari Manganese Field locality. The rhodochrosites are grouped radially, and the contacts are so seamless that backlighting makes the specimen look like one solid piece of cherry-red rhodo, which it virtually is. Individually, the crystals are striated and lustrous on the prism faces, with the terminations being stepped and modified, creating an almost rounded look with a frosted luster. This is an excellent miniature that resembles some of the rhodos from the well-known Hotazel Mine in South Africa, but also bearing some resemblance to some of the great rhodos out of Peru and Japan. This style is quite unique, even from this location which was briefly productive - in the early 1980s and not since.