Rhodochrosite & Pyrite (circa 1800s classic)

Item Description

A very showy and rich old-time combination from the famous Oppu Mine of Japan. Lovely rose-red rhodochrosite botryoids are aesthetically clustered on the sculptural large specimen richly covered with starkly contrasting spherical aggregates of scintillating, tiny, brassy pyritohedrons. Oppu Mine rhodochrosite is the most important and classic Japanese locale for the species, long after its closing in 1979. This historic and ancient mine has been worked for silver, copper, lead, zinc and cadmium and finally for banded rhodochrosite since the late 1600s (MINDAT). Crystallized rhodos from here date from before WWII to over 100 years ago! A fine quality large rhodochrosite and pyrite combination from this historic mine. From an old collection.