Rhodochrosite on Goethite

$9,000.00

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T

The ArkenstoneFeatured

3,403 for sale·Member since 2026

A classic from this old Peruvian silver mining district, we have a cherry-red rhodochrosite standing proudly against a coating of black goethite matrix, in a protected crevasse. No repairs nor damage. This specimen came out in the 1980s, and came to us in the 1990s, after which we sold it to the Rich Geiger rhodo collection. Already trimmed down from a massive larger rock, it could be trimmed further to make a balanced miniature more suitable to some tastes; but I liked the context of the actual natural matrix showing how this single huge crystal formed in nature, filling up essentially the entire open void in a cavity with one single crystal. Normally, we might expect a coating or cluster of same sized crystals, not this giant! The crystal is 3 cm tall and 1.5 cm across the front. For this particular style of elongated scalenohedral crystals (much like calcite in form), it has a better transparency and luster than many Peruvian crystals, certainly better than those from modern finds of the early 2000s here. A significant piece not just for crystal size, but for the display impact and the story it tells about how these form in rock cavities, in nature.