Rhodochrosite „flower“ crystal from Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru

It is hard to reconcile the rosy beauty of this Rhodochrosite miniature with the harsh almost lunar landscape of Uchucchacua: a Silver/Zinc mining camp situated between 14,000 and 16,000 feet up in the Peruvian Andes, where its story began.

Never available in large numbers, the best of the Rhodochrosite from here looks very similar to material that South Africa produced in the 1980's: same crystal form - scalenohedral; same luster - brilliantly glassy; and same transparent, deep red color. In fact, it would be very easy to mistake this specimen for the South African material, except for the unique matrix that surely identifies it as an Uchucchacua specimen.

What is unusual about this specimen is that it is quite unlike others from this locality on a number of counts. Normally Uchucchacua Rhodochrosites crystals grow in small cavities in the dark rock typical of the place. Here we have a flat brownish matrix with several small quartz crystals and the single Rhodochrosite stands up straight. The texture and grwoth patterns at the crystal are gorgeous and the quality of the over one inch crystal (2,80 cm) is excellent.

In all seriousness, this is a very unusual and fine example of the best from this famous, remote locality.

Location: From Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru

Measures: 2,7 x 3,8 x 3,8 cm in total size

And many thanks to Laszlo Kupi from Finemineralphotography for this fantastic shot! @finemineralphotography