Shigaite (very rare and fine)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful association specimen of Shigaite on Rhodochrosite from the prestigious N'Chwaning I Mine in South Africa, dating back to the late 1990s into the early 2000s. Shigaite is a very rare hydrated manganese aluminum sodium sulfate species, named after the Shiga Prefecture in Japan, where it was first discovered. The finest examples of the species are those from the N'Chwaning I Mine. Very few specimens are found these days, and it's a shame, as it's a truly beautifully species, and is often found with colorful associated minerals like pink Rhodochrosite. This is a wonderful miniature specimen Gemmy, burnt-red colored, lustrous, gemmy crystals of Shigaite sitting atop sparkling beautiful pink colored Rhodochrosite on matrix. The Shigaites measure to about 6 mm, and look beautiful up close. An eye-catching and extremely hard to find association specimen from this famous locality. For reference, Shigaite is the manganese analogue of Nikischerite and Poellmannite.