Rhodochrosite (mistaken for Tsumeb!) (ex Dr. William Logan Collection)

Item Description

The Rhodochrosites from Santa Eulalia don't get enough credit on the market for their size, quality and beautiful color. They are largely forgotten and lost among South African and Sweet Home / Detroit City material. This miniature piece features a central vug with pink colored, scalenohedral crystals of Rhodochrosite measuring up 3 mm long sitting on host rock matrix. Most of them are undamaged, though a few are contacted. The most interesting aspect of this specimen is the fact that it comes with a handful of collector / dealer labels that originally had the piece coming from Tsumeb! This is significant for the fact that while Rhodochrosite is not a rare carbonate by any length, it is IMMENSELY rare from Tsumeb, as the locality is dominated by other carbonate species (Calcite, Smithsonite & Dolomite). I can only remember seeing a few confirmed crystals of Rhodochrosite from Tsumeb in my life, which would have made this piece an incredible treasure if it was actually found there, but it's clearly from Santa Eulalia once you compare it to others from the distirct. From the worldwide Rhodochrosite collection of Dr. William S. Logan (Specimen #X135-4)