Back to Top
of Page

Click Here for next page - Edward David Collection
Check out the many great Rhodocrosite mineral specimens on this page.
#R1008  
  Hummingbird Minerals.com
Rocks and Minerals. Rock, Mineral and Crystal Specimens. 
Mineral Dealer specializing in cabinet size fine minerals
#R1048  
#R1051  
#R1054   
#R1043 
#R1022   
Beautiful, hard to obtain, specimen of the older Colorado Rhodocrosites with very attractive pastel pink crystals up to 0.7 cm aesthesically distributed over a matrix of sparkly Quartz. In very good condition.
#R1057   
#R1038  
#R1058   
This specimen featuring a huge 6.5 x 3.5 cm Rhodocrosite crystal (unrepaired) on nicely contrasting lustrous black Tetrahedrite matix was a significant find near the start of the Sweet Home re-mining venture begun by Bryan Lees of Collectors Edge in the early 1990's. The crystal is complete all around and has an interesting terraced (natural) surface. Although not gemmy, it is translucent and glows a cherry red throughout, when backlit.
Small pink crystal clusters of Rhodocrosite with minor Quartz surround a 2x1 cm lustrous, black crystal of Sphalerite. In very good condition.
Gorgeous large plate of light salmon pink crystals of Rhodocrosite. Even better in person !!
Large, rich Colorado classic specimen of beautiful bright pink Rhodocrosite in great balance with snowy white Quartz. Not common on the market, especially of this size and showiness.
Super, large showy specimen out of the Wein Collection, a well known European collection dispersed a few years ago. Dozens of gorgeous bright pink rosettes of Rhodocrosite are clustered on a rolling bed of microcrystalline Quartz, both on a thick Rhodocrosite rich matrix.
Nice Sunnyside Mine specimen of pretty pink crystals of Rhodocrosite nicely dispersed on snowy Quartz. In good condition.
Unusual and attractive light lavender Rhodocrosite crystals on matrix.
#R1061   
 
#R1062   
#R1066   
                    
Background on Rhodocrosite
Rhodocrosite was first described in 1813 in reference to a sample from Cavnic, Maramureş, present-day Romania. According to Dimitrescu and Radulescu, 1966 and to Papp, 1997, this mineral was described for the first time in Sacaramb, Romania, not in Cavnic, Romania. The name is derived from the Greek word ῥοδόχρως meaning rose-colored.

Colorado officially named Rhodochrosite as its state mineral in 2002 based on a proposal by a local high school (Platte Canyon High School in Bailey,Colorado). The reason for this lies in the fact that while the mineral is found worldwide, large red crystals are found only in a few places on earth, and some of the best specimens have been found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado.

The Alma King is the largest known Rhodochrosite crystal; it was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado. It is on display in the Denver Museum of nature and Science. The mine
was closed in 2004. But recently in 2016 Collectors Edge opened a new mine named the Detroit City Mine located about 200 feet above the old Sweet Home Mine. Work has been ongoing since with hopes that more high quality Rhodocrosite specimens will be unearthed.

The Incas believed that Rhodochrosite is the blood of their former rulers, turned to stone, therefore it is sometimes called "Rosa del Inca" or "Inca Rose".

The pink color of Rhodochrosite is caused by the element manganese and it is formed when manganese is dissolved by ground water and combines with a carbonate material and then drips off the ceiling of caves and crevices deep underground.  It is found in Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Colorado and Montana, U.S, and Quebec, Canada.

Individual crystals are found in well shaped rhombohedrons and more rarely scalahedrons. 
The massive form is more commonly found in the form of stalactites and stalagmites in Argentina.  Massive Rhodochrosite  often  forms pink and white bands, which is carved into figurines or boxes while the tubular stalactite formations are often sliced for use in jewelry. Fine gem quality crystals are sometimes cut into gemstones for use in high end jewelry, but the more common grade is used extensively in silver and gold jewelry. 

Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada has produced many fine rare minerals but it also produces some nice Rhodochrosite specimens as well. Specimens from here are generally small, but have a good color and are associated with rarer minerals.

 
Japan and Kazakhstan have yielded some wonderful botryoidal forms of Rhodocrosite.

N'Chwanging Mine, Hotazel, South Africa has produced possibly the best examples of scalahedral crystals of Rhodochrosite. The unusual crystal habit is due in part to this being one of a few sedimentary crystallizing environments for the species. 





A gorgeous, very colorful and rich specimen covered with clusters of glistening, gemmy and lustrous, rose-red, Rhodocrosite rhombs. Scattered Quartz crystals are a nice accent. The matrix is massive sulfides. In very good condition with only some trivial contact bruising.
An excellent, showy and rich, two-sided crust covered with gemmy, dark cherry-red to reddish brown scalenohedrons of Rhodocrosite to 6mm in length on a nicely contrasting massive manganite matrix from a rare and old locality - the Moanda Manganese Mine in Gabon. Some of the crystals are doubly terminated and a few are two-tone or zoned. In very good condition.
Pretty plate of solid Rhodocrosite with nice rhombohedrons up to 1.25 x 1.25 cm.
#ED120             

A fine cluster of Rhodocrosite rhombs (to 1x1.5 cm) from the famous Sweet Home Mine. In fine condition.
#R1012  
I bought this outstanding Rhodocrosite from Jordi Fabre at the 2006 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. Jordi said I could quote him that it is the best specimen he had from a recent find in the Manuelita Mine. This Rhodocrosite has rhombohedral crystals, up to 1.5 cm, of excellent color. The quality of the specimens from this find or cavity are very superior to what has been usual for the mine. 


Home
Mixed Minerals
Gallery:
Rocks and Minerals. Mineral, Rock and Crystal Dealer. Check out our high
quality selection.
Rhodocrosite
Ordering Information
Privacy Statement
Links
Edward David
Collection
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
#R2003  
#R2004   
Very pretty and unusual specimen of towering stems of pale pink rosettes of Rhodocrosite on Quartz crystals and accenting Pyrite. In very good condition.
Light pink rhombohedrons of Rhodocrosite on a solid plate of Rhodocrosite.
Rhodocrosite with Quartz
Mina Manuelita (October 2005), Morococha, Junin, Peru
10 x 9.5 x 5 cm
        $3,700
Rhodocrosite Crystal (2.5 inch) on Tetrahedrite with Quartz
Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado
15 x 8 x 7.5 cm
Ex-Dr. Mark Feinglos Collection
        $8,500     
Rhodocrosite with Quartz
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Department, Peru
10.8 x 7.5 x 6.7 cm
          $750
         SOLD
Rhodocrosite on Manganite (Rare, old locale)
Moanda Mine, Haut-Ogooue Province, Gabon, Africa
6 x 3.3 x 1.3 cm
       $1,100
 Rhodocrosite
 Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Department, Peru
 9.5 x 9 x 4 cm
       $300
Rhodocrosite, Sphalerite and Quartz                   
Santa Rita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Lima Departmentt, Peru
8 x 7.5 x 4 cm
        $225
Rhodocrosite
Santa Rita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Lima Department, Peru
13 x 9.5 x 4 cm
       $400
Rhodocrosite on Quartz
Sunnyside Mine, San Juan County, Colorado
13 x 9.5 x 5.5 cm
        $750       
Rhodocrosite with Quartz & Pyrite
Hezhou (Babu) Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
12 x 9 x 3.5 cm
       $500
Rhodocrosite Crystal Cluster
Hedgehog Pocket, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado, USA
5 x 5 x 3 cm
Ex-Edward David Collection
      $11,000       
Rhodocrosite
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Department, Peru
9.5 x 9 x 4 cm
      $300
Rhodocrosite on Quartz
American Tunnel Mine (Gold King Mine), Howardsville, Silverton District, San Juan Co., Colorado, USA
9.5 x 7.5 x 2.6 cm
        $450
Rhodocrosite on Quartz
Cavnic, Maramures, Romania
19 x 11.5 x 4.5 cm
Ex-Rolf Wein Collection
            $4,000
             SOLD
Rhodocrosite on Quartz
Sunnyside Mine near Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado
12.5 x 8 x 5 cm
       $250
Rhodocrosite on Matrix
Santa Eulalia District, Mun. de Aquiles Serdan, Chihuahua, Mexico
9 x 6.5 x 2 cm
         $300
Rhodocrosite on Quartz with Pyrite
Guangxi Zhung AR, China
11.5 x 8 x 4.5 cm
         $900     
#R2006
#R2007
#R2008
Rhodocrosite with Quartz
Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA
7.9 x 6.4 x 3.8 cm
Ex-Bob Trimingham Collection
          $400
A sculptural, 3-dimensional specimen of intergrown, translucent, lightly frosted, pastel-pink Rhodocrosite rhombs. A neat, well placed cluster of cactus like Quartz crystals provides a beautiful accent to the piece. Essentially pristine, except for trivial edge wear. Likely from the Emma Mine, source of much of Butte rhodos. Formerly in the Royal Brown Collection.
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
8 x 5 x 2.5 cm
        $750
Beautiful, dark red scalenohedral crystals (to 1.5x0.5 cm) clustered
atop a dark matrix. In very good condition.
Rhodocrosite
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Junín Department, Peru
5 x 3.5 x 1 cm
     $200
#R2211
#R2212
#R2213
#R2214
#R2215
#R2216
#R2217
#R2218
#R2219
#R2220
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Cal;cite
Sunnyside Mine, Silverton District, San Yuan County, Colorado, USA
6 x 4 x 2.5 cm
     $150
Rhodocrocite Crystals on Matrix
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Junin Dept., Peru
8.5 x 7 x 3 cm
     $150
Rhodocrosite on Sphalerite with Quartz
Santa Rita Mine, Moropcocha District, Yauli Province, Lima Dept., Peru
18 x 10 x 7.5 cm
     $1,000
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Quartz
Wutong Rhodochrosite Mine, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
12.5 x 9 x 4.5 cm
      $2,000
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Dept., Peru
6.4 x 4.5 x 2.7 cm
Ex-W.S. Logan Rhodocrosite Collection
    $650
   SOLD
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Manganese Matrix (Rare)
Moanda Mine, Moanda, Léboumbi-Leyou Department, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon 
8.3 x 4.4 x 4 cm
     $3,000
      SOLD
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Matrix
Manuelita Mine, Junan Dept., Peru
7 x 5.5 x 3 cm
    $200
Rhodocrosite (Polished Slice)
Catamarca, Argentina
12 x 9 x 1 cm
     $250
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Matrix
Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia, Mexico
6 x 5 x 4 cm
    $300

Quartz Crystals on Rhodocrosite
Santa Rita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Dept., Peru
8.5 x 4.5 x 3 cm
     $300
#R2021
Botryoidal Rhodocrosite on Matrix
Hotazel Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
4.5 x 2.5 x 2 cm
Ex-Kay Robertson Collection
      $250

A really pretty large specimen of Rhodocrosite crystals on Quartz from the Wutong Mine. in very good condition.
Nice polished slice from a Rhodocrosite stalactite from Argentina.
Equally presentable on both sides.
Rose-red, glassy, translucent Rhodocrosite rhombs richly cover a sulfide matrix. The rhombs reach 1.0 cm. Very little new material has come out from the mine in recent years. In very good condition.
An attractive botryoidal growth of light pink, glistening Rhodocrosite on matrix. In very good condition.
Gemmy Rhodocrosite crystals measuring to 2x1.5x1.5 cm perched on a Manganese matrix. In very good condition.
​Gorgeous, rare, specimen of very acute scalenohedral crystals of Rhodocrosite on matrix. The crystals vary between transparent and translucent with a color between red and mauve. Very intense color saturation makes for a fantastic presentation. Fine specimens from the Moanda Mine are very rare. In very good condition.
Pretty, pastel pink groups of Rhodocrosite rhombs perched atop a Calcite matrix. In very good condition.
Pastel pink Rhodocrosite on matrix. In very good condition.
Pastel pink Rhodocrosite on matrix. In good condition.
A very large specimen of Sphalerite covered with glistening pink balls of Rhodocrosite crystals and minor Quartz. Very aesthetic and even better in person. In very good condition.
A  beautiful cluster of Quartz crystals on a Rhodocrosite matrix. In very good condition.
Very pretty and unusual specimen of towering stems of pale pink rosettes of Rhodocrosite with Quartz and minor Pyrite.
Alluring, deep red, botryoidal and lustrous Rhodocrosite on matrix. In good condition.
Rhodocrosite Crystals on Manganese Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
7.3 x 6.4 x 2.8 cm
     $1,500
      SOLD
#R2221
Gorgeous specimen of lustrous, cherry-red, scalenohedral Rhodocrosite crystals measuring to 1.2 cm. The crystals are in great condition with few contacts and, are as lustrous and gemmy as one sees from the locality.
Illinois Fluorites