Rhodochrosite ('rosettes') on Quartz

Item Description

This is one of the older specimens from the Wutong Mine in China which came out in the mid 2000s. They were found before the large rhombs hit the market, and they are still tremendously eye-catching. They are not your typical gemmy red crystals like those from the famous Sweet Home Mine, but they do resemble Rhodos from other localities. If you've ever seen the "rosettes" from the Eagle Mine in Colorado, these are very similar in my mind in both style and associations. This hefty large cabinet display specimen features a rich coverage of hundreds of beautiful, sharp, compressed rhombohedra of pink Rhodochrosite forming attractive "rosettes" on prismatic Quartz crystals sitting on Pyrite and Sphalerite matrix. If you look closely, you will see several, tabular prismatic crystals of Hubnerite stuck in between the Quartz crystals, reminiscent of specimens from the Sweet Home Mine! The Hubnerites actually show a slight amount of deep gemmy red color when backlit. I love how the Rhodos are gently intergrown, yet still show distinctive individual crystal form. Excellent quality all around, and very little damage. Priced at $4,000 in the inventory for the size and fine quality. Please note that this specimen weighs 2,226 grams (nearly 5 pounds) and will require and additional shipping charge.