Rhodochrosite. N'Chwaning Mines, Kuruman, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape, South Africa. ... (Total: 2 )

Description

Rhodochrosite
N'Chwaning Mines, Kuruman, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape, South Africa

"A small cluster of shiny pyramidal transparent red rhodochrosite crystals up to about a cm on a little piece of matrix. Bought this specimen from Roelf Viljoen in Kuraman [sic]."
- Rock H. Currier

Describing this red as "vibrant" would be the worst kind of understatement. Even under normal light, this Rhodochrosite practically glows. The saturation of this piece is intense, with a consistent color throughout each crystal. The internal clarity makes the surface textures stand out in stark relief, giving this stone a nearly faceted appearance. A dusting of white Calcite accents the side of the crystals, adding a bit of sparkle and contrast to an otherwise all-encompassing red. Although there were a number of habits found at N'Chwaning, these scalenohedral crystals are more typical for the locality. Some of the terminations on these crystals are cleaved, an unfortunately common sight in N'Chwaning material. Rock certainly knew how to get to the source for his goodies. In 1978, he included South Africa as a stop in his annual trot around the globe. There, he met up with Roelf Viljoen and purchased a few choice specimens for his personal collection. His timing could not have been better, N'Chwaning Rhodochrosite production dried up by the early 1980s, much to the dismay of collectors. Nearly 40 years later, and people are still just as enamored with these Rhodochrosites. Fewer and fewer appear on the market each year, yet demand is as high as ever. There is a custom acrylic base.
Overall Measurements: 1.6 x 1.5 x 1.1 inches (4 x 3.9 x 2.9 cm)
Weight: 36 grams
Offered at no reserve

Provenance: Purchased from Roelf Viljoen [RHC #3502, acquired 1978]

[Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]

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