Rhodochrosite with Fluorite

$6,500.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

3,403 for sale·Member since 2026

Back in the early 90s, we saw a limited number of fluorites and other minerals - rarely rhodochrosite - from the Kounrad mining area of Kazakhstan. I bought many from the Fersman Museum of Moscow in that era, and they told me that most such specimens came from scientific expeditions and assays in the region, which hosted military tungsten and copper mines among others. We saw very little good material, as nobody there was really collecting for specimens beyond a few museum trips. This is a dramatic, relatively large, and quite attractive crystal with a deep red saturated color. Sparkling, gemmy translucent purple fluorites decorate the lower half of the front face. We believe the small brown crystals are fluorapatite (and they fluoresce white), but have not analyzed them. This is a very rare locality piece, and also an attractive and significant miniature for any rhodo or Soviet Republic regional collector. We have not seen one this size, only smaller 1-3 cm crystals of this habit.