Rhodochrosite w/ Fluorite & Quartz (OLD - classic locale)

Item Description

Rich rose-red lustrous and translucent rhodochrosite rhombs with frosted faces are dramatically clustered on this OLD-TIME sculptural small cabinet combination from the famous Sweet Home Mine. The rhombs, to 2.0 cm on the diagonal, are beautifully accented by the needle quartz clusters and the purple fluorite cubes at the base with cute darker edge phantoms. There are MAJOR surprises on the back! Nicely scattered fluorite cubes, to 8 mm and tiny brassy pyritohedrons rest on a highly UNUSUAL and RARE etched-looking brown matrix. I have shown this to four other geologist/collectors in the office and we all agree, that the piece probably predates the renowned 1990s-early 2000s collecting efforts here. We feel the piece is from 1960s or 70s or even earlier collecting. Purple fluorite fluorescence. The edge rhombs on the side opposite of quartz crystals appear to have some cleaved faces, but it is hard-to-tell. Irregardless, we believe this is a significant OLDER and rare rodochrosite combination from this world-class locality. From an East Coast collection. Fairly valued at $2500-3500.