Rhodochrosite (RARE style - old classic) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

RARE sharp flattened pretty rose-red rhodochrosite rhombs from the famous Oppu Mine. Classic rhodos from here are generally botryoidal or mammilary. Rhombs to about 9 mm are aesthetically clustered on two sides of this rare and fine old-timer. 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! Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 6068 and acquired from the Hamel mineral dealers, as a gift. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record).