American Tunnel Mine (Gold King Mine), Howardsville,
Silverton District, San Juan Co., Colorado, USA
9.5 x 7.5 x 2.6 cm
$350
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.
Sunnyside Mine near Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado
12.5 x 8 x 5 cm
$250
#R1058 Rhodocrosite on Matrix
Santa Eulalia District, Mun. de Aquiles Serdan, Chihuahua, Mexico
9 x 6.5 x 2 cm
$325
#R1060 Rhodocrosite Stalactites - Large Multiple
Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina
14.4 x 10.1 x 0.9 cm
$1,500
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 remining 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 black crystal of Sphalerite.
Sharp and lustrous red rhombohedrons of Rhodocrosite up to 1 cm on a matrix of clear Quartz with many intermingled tiny, deep purple cubes of Fluorite.
Solid cluster of pink rhombohedral Rhodocrosite.
Gorgeous large plate of deep salmon pink crystals of Rhodocrosite. Even better in person !!
A nice specimen from the early finds of better Rhodocrosite in China, which bore some beginning resemblence to Sweet Home specimens. In recent finds they are getting closer to the beauty of Sweet Home and are commanding big prices.
Beautiful sparkling, super gemmy, wine colored scalenohedral crystals of Rhodocrosite cover this fine N''Chwaning specimen.
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.
The less common botryoidal form of Rhodocrosite from an equally uncommon location.
Very pretty and unusual specimen of towering stems of pale pink rosettes of Rhodocrosite with Quartz and minor Pyrite.
A very good specimen of Sweet Home Mine Rhodocrosite with Quartz.
Another great Chinese Rhodocrosite - this one being essentially a single large crystal (Floater) with beautifully defined sharp edges and terrific luster.
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.
Unusual and attractive light lavender Rhodocrosite crystals on matrix.
This specimen is a slice across a cluster of intergrown stalactites of Rhodocrosite with gorgeous deep salmon pink color and, aesthetics due to the radiating disposition bands. It is very nicely polished on both sides to bring out the beauty of this old material of quality very hard to find these days.
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Department, Peru
10.8 x 7.5 x 6.7 cm
$900
#R1062 Rhodocrosite on Manganite (Rare, old locale)
Moanda Mine, Haut-Ogooue Province, Gabon, Africa
6 x 3.3 x 1.3 cm
$1,100
#R1064 Rhodocrosite with Quartz
Casapalca Mine, Huarochiri Province, Lima Department, Peru
6.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 cm
$200
#R1066 Rhodocrosite
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Junin Department, Peru
9.5 x 9 x 4 cm
$600
#R1067 Twin Scalahedral Crystals of Rhodocrosite on Manganese Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
15.5 x 9 x 8 cm
$2,600
#R1070 Rhodocrosite Crystals on Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
9.5 x 6 x 4 cm
Ex-Jorge Diaz Asenjo Collection
$350
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 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 the caves of 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 has yielded some wondeful 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 redddish brown scalenohedrons of Rhodocrosite to 6mm in length on a nicely contrasting massive manganite matrix from a rare amd old locality, the Moanda Manganese mine in Gabon. Some of the crystals are doubly terminated and a few are two-tone or zoned.
Aesthetic combination of pink Rhodocrosite and Quartz.
Pretty plate of solid Rhodocrosite with nice rhombohedrons up to 1.25 x 1.25 cm.
Excellent, twin scalahedral, doubly terminated, gemmy crystals of Rhodocrosite measuring to 2x1x1 cm. No damage.
Nice pocket of gemmy Rhodocrosite crystals on a Manganite matrix.
#ED120 Rhodocrosite Crystal Cluster
Hedgehog Pocket, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado, USA
5 x 5 x 3 cm
Ex-Edward David Collection
$9,000
Cluster of Rhodocrosite rhombs (to 1x1.5 cm) from the famous Sweet Home Mine.
#R1069 Rhodocrosite Crystals with Quartz on Manganese Matrix
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
9 x 9 x 6 cm
Ex-Jorge Diaz Asenjo Collection
$450
A specimen with several, very gemmy scalahedral crystals of Rhodocrosite and some equally gemmy Quartz in a Manganite coated vug.
#R1012 Rhodocrosite with Quartz
Mina Manuelita (October 2005), Morococha, Junin, Peru
10 x 9.5 x 5 cm
$2,500
I bought this outstanding Rhodocrosite from Jordi Fabre at the 2006 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show and sold it, but recently re-aquired it. 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.
See the May-June, 2006 Issue of the Mineralogical Record, p. 241 for reference to Jordi Fabre and the find where this specimen originated in an article "What's New in Minerals" by Tom Moore.
#R1020 Rhodocrosite with Quartz, Pyrite and Tetrahedrite
Hedgehog Pocket, Main Stope Drift,
Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado, USA (09/1996)
9.7 x 6.2 x 4.4 cm
$8,000
An excellent specimen abundant in rhombohedral, sharp crystals on a matrix of Quartz, Pyrite and Tetrahedrite. Color, luster and transparency of the Rhodocrosite crystals are outstanding. The value of this specimen is high because of its excellent condition. As colorful as the picture is, not even custom photo books can accurately display its beauty.The Sweet Home Mine is closed and these rare specimens are rising in cost everyday. Adding these to your collection brings not only great, unique beauty, but is a great investment, as well.
