Rhodochrosite with RARE Stilbite association

Item Description

An eye-catching and showy display specimen from the Starnitsa Deposit in Bulgaria featuring a coverage of beautiful baby pink colored, compressed rhombohedra of Rhodochrosite associated with a few prismatic, hexagonal crystals of colorless/white Quartz sitting on matrix. If you look closely, you'll see dozens of tiny, pale cream colored, vitreous blades of Stilbite (Stilbite Subgroup) sprinkled all over the piece! While neither Rhodochrosite nor Stilbite are considered terribly rare species, it's incredibly hard to find them together on the same specimen like this! As a matter of fact, I can't find another locality outside of the Starnitsa Deposit where these two minerals are found together. I've seen a good number of pieces from Bulgaria over the years, but this particular association always catches my eye, because it's unexpected and just plain pretty. No major damage anywhere, but there is a small "rub" on one edge where it was separated from the pocket. For you worldwide Rhodochrosite collectors, don't pass this one up, as it's simply "different" than others you'll see on the market.