Rhodochrosite with Quartz (classic material)

Item Description

The Sunnyside Mine in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado was one of the top Rhodochrosite localities in the state. Before the Sweet Home was really productive, these were arguably the most recognized Rhodos from any Colorado locality, and they only second behind the Rhodos from the Sweet Home Mine in terms of color and quality. This wonderful small cabinet piece hosts attractive, sharp, well-formed rhombic crystals of rich reddish-pink colored Rhodochrosite measuring up to 1.6 cm across sitting on a plate of crystallized Quartz with minor associated Fluorite and sparkling metallic brassy Chalcopyrite. The piece is in very good condition all over, with no major damage that I can find, only a few small imperfections. Pieces of this size and quality are incredibly hard to find on the market, and this specific specimen came from the G level of the mine in the mid to late 1960s. A fine, eye-catching specimen for any collector of Rhodochrosites or specimens from Colorado from this well known mine in southwestern Colorado. For reference, Gary originally purchased this specimen was from Gordon Nedblake in Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Valued $4,000-$5,000.
From the collection of Gary and Terry Butts of Livermore, Colorado. This husband and wife collecting duo were childhood sweethearts, and have been together since they began dating as teenagers growing up in East Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. Both of them had an early interest in the hobby thanks to the fact that Terry's parents had a keen interest in lapidary, which sparked an interest in rocks for both of them. Gary and Terry were featured in an article in the Des Moines Register on Feb 4, 1962 (see photo in this listing) highlighting their interest and prowess in the hobby as youngsters. Gary traveled to various localities around the US as a teenager with his father (who worked in the tin industry), to personally collect specimens. He then attended the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and graduated in 1967 with a degree in extractive metallurgical engineering. We went to work for Duval Corp at the Esperanza Mine south of Tucson, Arizona and then work for Cyprus Mines, Hazen Research, Pincock, Allen & Holt and the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. His final job was in the mineral and environmental division of Intertek Testing Services of London, which owned the Canadian mineral testing company, Bonder Clegg. Gary's various jobs allowed him to travel the world and build his collection by buying a lot of specimens in person when they were coming out of the ground. Additionally, Terry's uncle was a miner in Creede, Colorado and later owned a rock shop which supplied Gary with specimens from the area. The specimens in this auction represent what Gary and Terry considered the "cream of the crop" of their collection.