Rhodochrosite with Quartz ''casts'' after Anhydrite (ex Dave Bergman Collection)

Item Description

Here we have an excellent cabinet sized display specimen featuring beautiful semi-"rosette"-esque clusters of pink Rhodochrosite sitting atop white to grey colored Quartz crystal matrix. The largest Rhodochrosite group measures 8 mm across. If you look at the reverse side of the piece, you will see many excellent thin bladed "casts" where previous Anhydrite crystals formed, dissolved away and left their indentations. I strongly believe this piece is from the F Level of the mine, and was found around 1966-1968 based upon similar material I've handled over the years. An iconic and eye-catching piece of Colorado mining history. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures". The piece was given to Dave as a gift by his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar in June of 1984 and the hand-written label from Kosnar accompanies the piece.