Rhodochrosite (RARE pegmatite specimen!)

Item Description

Rhodochrosite is one of the most beloved mineral species in the world, and pieces from localities like the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, the N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa are among the most valuable and sought after specimens in the hobby today. The vast majority of good crystallized Rhodochrosite specimens you'll find on the market come from ore deposit localities, but occasionally you'll see Rhodochrosite pop up from an unlikely environment, like a granitic pegmatite. Recently there was a discovery of some really beautiful and fine quality Rhodochrosite specimens from the locality at Chhappu, Pakistan, right in the middle of the Shigar Valley, where some of the most well-known pegmatite gem minerals (Aquamarine, Topaz, etc.) have been found over the last 30 years. It's not unheard of to see Rhodochrosite from a pegmatite, but these new pieces from Pakistan are certainly some of the finest examples ever seen from this kind of deposit. This beautiful small cabinet display specimen hosts a 2.2 cm, gemmy/translucent, compound crystal group of Rhodochrosite of a flattened trigonal habit and a pleasing glowing reddish-pink color, associated with lovely snow white "rosettes" of Albite (var: Cleavelandite) plus slightly smoky colored, prismatic Quartz crystals on Feldspar (probably Microcline) matrix. A few small additional Rhodochrosites and scattered black Schorl crystals can be seen on the piece for a nice touch. Great quality all around, only very minor roughness and the piece sits so beautifully on its own without the aid of a base or clay. This discovery was incredibly limited, so don't miss out on your chance to get your hands on this beautiful and showy specimen of a treasured mineral species from an unlikely locality.