Shigaite and Rhodochrosite

Item Description

Shigaite is an ULTRA-RARE aluminum manganese sulfate. When you can find Shigaite, you usually find them growing directly on Rhodochrosite, but these gemmy, 3-4mm, tabular, hexagonal, dark cherry-red crystals are growing directly on what looks like a limonite matrix. The Rhodochrosite provides a good complement to the Shigaite and the matrix by growing in very sparkly, transparent, rose-red clusters up to about 7mm. This piece comes from a small find and is highly representative of both species. It is a rather large, and overall rich piece that is hard to obtain in a good price point. Old material from the early 1980s, this is from the same pocket as the famous piece illustrated in the Barlow Collection book, and seldom seen today. Valued $750