Rhodochrosite (RARE pegmatite specimen!)

Item Description

Rhodochrosite is certainly one of the top mineral species in the world for collectors. Specimens from famous localities like the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, the N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa are among the most valuable specimens in the hobby today. The vast majority of fine crystallized Rhodochrosite specimens you'll find on the market are found in ore deposit localities, but occasionally you'll see Rhodochrosite pop up from an unlikely environment, like a granitic pegmatite. Recently there was a discovery of some really beautiful and fine quality Rhodochrosite specimens from the locality at Chhappu, Pakistan, right in the middle of the Shigar Valley, where some of the most well-known pegmatite gem minerals (Aquamarine, Topaz, etc.) have been found over the last 30 years. It's not unheard of to see Rhodochrosite from a pegmatite, but these new pieces from Pakistan are certainly some of the finest examples ever seen from this kind of deposit. This beautiful small cabinet display specimen host translucent Rhodochrosite crystals of a flattened trigonal habit and a pleasing reddish-pink color, associated with lovely snow white "rosettes" of Albite (var: Cleavelandite) plus translucent, lustrous Quartz crystals and black Schorl on Feldspar (probably Microcline) matrix. The largest Rhodo crystal measures 1.5 cm. Great quality all around, only very minor roughness. This discovery was incredibly limited, so don't miss out on your chance to get your hands on this beautiful and showy specimen of a treasured mineral species from an unlikely locality.