Rhodochrosite with Manganite

These treasured red jewels are among the most desirable of all mineral specimens and date from just a few years in the late 1970s and early 1980s finds here. Such pieces are mostly massive or clunky and specimens of this size with any aesthetics are rare - then and now. They only turn up in old collections, as this came out of the Marty Zinn collection when it was sold back in 2003. I bought it, sold it and got it back a few times since then; and it was most recently in the award winning exhibit case of Brent Lockhart. Many of them lack a dominant central crystal but this is a very balanced, 3-dimensional miniature with superb aesthetics and the best rich, cherry-red color. Unlike most of them which are rather damaged (due to the time they were collected, generally in haste), this has only one small tip missing (acceptable for the material). Small bladed manganite crystals provide a welcome and unique accent characteristic of only one pocket found in those years. It is, to those who know what they are looking at, just a very sophisticated example of one of the pre-eminent pockets of minerals in modern times. Comes with a custom lucite base.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Manganite, Rhodochrosite

SizeMiniature

Dimensions4.9 x 4.3 x 3.4 cm

Locality

South Africa, Northern Cape, N'Chwaning I Mine

Added on12/15/2024

Comments

Known provenance

Unknown date