$700Median
241Sold (12 mo)
$95Last sale
Rhodochrosite from N'Chwaning II Mine, N'Chwaning Mines, Northern Cape, South Africa
A true classic of the mineral world, but in extremely large size, this is one of the largest surviving examples of the South African red rhodochrosites that shocked the world at the time, as they started to come out in the early 1980s. These come from the Kalahari manganese field, where you would expect any mineral finds to be abundant perhaps. However, this is not the case. Despite the vast size of the deposits, these were found only in a small place and time, a narrow slice through the earth, in the early 1980s - and then, no more. Few specimens the size of this were found and recovered to begin with, and many have been trimmed down in size or lost over the years. This piece is approximately the size of a football, and nearly pristine. There are many styles of crystals from these pockets, including some with larger crystals but less saturated color. This is from what was called "cherry pocket" although that probably was a zone, rather than one single pocket; and it has the saturated cherry red color that you would want. It literally glows from across a room, with hot red color and needs very minimal lighting to show itself. (Note: size is approximate as this is on exhibition in China at the moment). This is a truly impactful, large, museum-sized treasure of nature. We only see such specimens generationally, from now on, as a few collections recycle to market.
Product details
SpeciesRhodochrosite
SizeLarge Cabinet
Dimensions22.0 x 16.0 x 12.0 cm
Added on10/15/2026
LocalitySouth Africa, Northern Cape, N'Chwaning II Mine
Current owner
Member since 2026
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Mineral guide
Learn about Rhodochrosite
deep pink to rich red manganese carbonate with vitreous crystals, diverse crystal habits, and renowned localities prized by collectors.Regional guide
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