Bi-colored Rhodochrosite (Belsky Coll.)

Item Description

Rhodochrosite specimens from Butte are always highly desirable. This showy and rich specimen has several very unusual characteristics: the crystals are elongated rhombohedrons, up to about 1.0 cm; and the lustrous crystals are bi-colored. Many of the terminations are rose-red to pastel-pink, while the sides and some terminations are tan. UNUSUAL in aspect, this is a fine display piece! The accompanying label from the 1980s says Leonard Mine, but information in the 2002 MIneralogical Record, Butte special issue, indicates these specimens are likely from the Emma or Travona Mines. Ex Howard Belsky Collection. Howard started as a mineral dealer at age 13 in 1972, became a sophisticated dealer and died tragically at age 28 in 1987. His collection recently became available to us through his family.