Rhodochrosite

Unknown Owner

N'Chwaning 2 mine in the Kalahari Manganese Field of Northern Cape Province, South Africa, is renowned for its magnificently well-crystallised Rhodochrosite, this being one of the area's iconic minerals. This specimen is an off matrix solid cluster of superbly radiating Rhodochrosite crystals, which combine to create a botryoidal terminated surface, dimpled like raspberries, and coloured like plump juicy strawberries! The specimen is mounted standing upright on a small bevelled clear acrylic base, so allowing the almost fibrous, radial spays of acicular crystals to be nicely displayed all the around the sides. These sprays slightly exceed 2 cm tall and then terminate in the drusy botryoidal surface described. In reflected light the colour is that of deep crushed strawberry-red, and once back-lit turns intense glowing strawberry-red with strong hints of apricot-orange. A fabulous Rhodochrosite from the classic N'Chwaning 2 mine.