Rhodochrosite with Quartz (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

A classic example from Pasto Bueno dating back to the early 1970s featuring several very sharp, highly lustrous, gemmy, glowing rose pink colored rhombohedra of Rhodochrosite measuring up to 6 mm associated with multiple WATER CLEAR, colorless, hexagonal prisms of Quartz on matrix. There is an additional Quartz crystal on the right side of the specimen that is thicker than the rest, and although it was once contacted, it's actually completely re-crystallized ("re-healed"), so it's not damaged. The piece sits on its own and displays beautifully as you can see. Very little damage and a great representation of this wonderful old time material. The piece is from the personal collection of Richard A. Kosnar (1946-2007), well-known mineral dealer from Colorado and the namesake for the phosphate species, Kosnarite. Rich personally acquired this specimen in Peru in the early 1970s, as he was one of the first (some say he was the very first) US dealers to visit places like Pasto Bueno and bring home specimens.