Rhodochrosite ex. University of Arizona

Item Description

A historic piece from the glory days of Colorado silver mining, this classic American rhodochrosite specimen weighs in at nearly 1800 grams (almost 4.5 pounds!). It is a "pocket", preserved complete with the massive matrix of rhodochrosite and the crystalline vug which formed as the crystals grew out into whatever small amount of free space there was in cracks in the rock, as the solution cooled all those millions of years ago. Thr rhodochrosite here smothers a bit of ore matrix, and the crystal pocket sits atop. Aside from the known history of such a specimen, this piece also was one of the recent deaccessions from old donations to the University of Arizona Mineral Museum (from the early to mid-1900s, judging by the accession number). It is large, imposing, and a very rare thing. Comes with custom lucite display base. valued at $2500