Rhodochrosite

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

An iconic, classic, gem quality facetable Rhodochrosite from arguably the world's greatest manganese deposit. Who would believe that a grey metal (manganese) could be responsible for such a beautiful mineral. Although recorded as from N'Chwaning mines, these 'gem' Rhodochrosite crystals were found in N'Chwaning I mine during the 1970s and even back then were much treasured. This individual, 2.7 cm long, steeply terminated scalenohedral crystal is surrounded at its base by smaller crystals. It displays the most intense raspberry-red colour imaginable for a mineral, and has stunning translucency meaning that it has an internal 'fire' when backlit. look carefully and the delicate detail of surface growth-lines can be seen. A true wonder of the mineralogical world, something most can only dream of possessing.