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Rhodochrosite

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MGR630527

Rhodochrosite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
NChwaning I Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
5.1 × 3.9 × 2.7 cm
Description

Incredible visual display, from one of the best several pockets of the late 1970s. This is the Holy Grail of collecting N’Chwaning rhodos - a piece in this dimension without tons of damage, with the large crystals, and the glowing gemmy large scalenohedra. Many crystals are over 1cm, the largest one is around 15mm tall. There is, as with most of these, contacting around the edges; but the piece is so well-trimmed and formed that the contacted periphery displays down and out of sight, and the glorious flashing crystals show to their best. This rhodo has top cherry color and striking gemminess, as well as high lustre. On the common market material like this is very hard to obtain but as always - we start with 10 Euro start-bid!

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Rhodochrosite

Formula: 
MnCO3
Strunz: 
5.AB.05
Crystal System: 
Trigonal
Hardness: 
3.5 - 4.0
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Cavnic Mine (Kapnikbánya), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramureș Co., Romania