Shigaite (very rare and fine) on Rhodochrosite

Item Description

Shigaite is a very rare and highly sought after hydrated manganese aluminum sodium sulfate mineral. The species was named in honor of the Shiga Prefecture in Japan, where it was first discovered in the 1980s. Without question, the finest examples of the species were found at the famed N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa in the late 1990s into the early 2000s. 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 piece is a wonderful small cabinet specimen featuring a "rose"-shaped group of highly lustrous, platy, deep reddish-brown colored crystals of Shigaite measuring 8 mm across, sitting atop bubbly, sparkling, gentle pink colored Rhodochrosite on matrix. A few translucent smoky bladed Baryte crystals can be seen as well for a nice touch. A showy and extremely hard to find association specimen from this famous locality. For reference, Shigaite is the manganese analogue of Nikischerite and Poellmannite. I would value this one in the $2,000 range retail. From the collection of Jelani Daniel.