Shigaite on Barite with Rhodochrosite (very rare association)

Item Description

A very rare association specimen featuring Shigaite ON Barite from the famous N'Chwaning I Mine. I'm told that these specimens came from a single pocket in the 1990s, and nothing similar has been found since. Shigaite is one of the great rare minerals from this renowned locality, as the finest examples of the species were found there. This miniature sized specimen features big, thick, blocky, sharp, well-formed, silvery-golden colored Barite crystals which play host to shimmering, beautifully deep golden-red colored "rosettes" and blades of Shigaite measuring up to 5 mm across with minor associated pink Rhodochrosite for a great final touch! This is one of the finest specimens of this material that we've had to offer and the quality of both the Barite and the Shigaite are superb for the species. The Barite group is complete most of the way around (it's contacted on the base where it was removed from the pocket wall), and while there are a few bruises here and there, you have to forgive this trivial damage due to the rarity of not only the Shigaite, but the fact that they're sitting on euhedral Barite crystals! If you collect N'Chwaning specimens, South African material, cool associations or worldwide rarities, don't pass up this important specimen from one of the great discoveries at this mine. Priced at $4,000 in the inventory.