Rhodochrosite on Manganite

Item Description

A dramatic speicmen of CHERRY RED rhodochrosite perched on contrasting black manganite, for a classic combination found only in the late 1970s/early 1980s here. The manganite matrix is crudely crystallized, and provides a stark contrast to the wheatsheave-like bundles of rhodochrosite. This is the TOP COLOR you could ask for, and it practically glows from across the room. There is some minor bruising to the front of a few minor rhodo crystals, and the piece is contacted or broken off on the back, though this does not affect the front display view. If it were complete all around, this would be valued in excess of $10,000 quite easily. Rhodochrosites from this particular style on matrix are rare today, hard to find, and trade at extreme premiums over other habits of rhodochrosite even from the same mine. I only get them occasionally in old collections. This one, was a fixer-upper, trimmed down from a larger piece to center the color an dmake it more aesthetic. It should be valued at least at $3000-4000. Comes with custom lucite display base.