Rhodochrosite (classic material)

Item Description

Some of the most beloved specimens of Rhodochrosite are those from the famous Kalahari Manganese Field in South Africa. The beautiful form, eye-catching color and excellent gemminess of these crystals puts them in the highest ranks among worldwide Rhodos. This miniature specimen is a classic example of this famous material. This piece features beautiful, sharp, lustrous, intense red colored, gemmy, scalenohedra of Rhodochrosite measuring up to 2.3 cm with virtually no matrix. The main crystal has that classic "dog tooth" habit often seen in this material, and the top is not broken, it simply has a flat / basal termination. When backlit, an intense flame red hue can be seen, which is contrasted against black manganese oxide (likely Manganite) which is growing both on and below the surface of the Rhodos. The lower portion of the specimen is contacted where the piece was removed from the pocket wall, but the main crystal is in excellent shape, at least on the display side. This old material is incredibly hard to find on the market these days, and is highly valued and sought after by collectors. Valued at $1,950 in the inventory.