A beautiful rhodochrosite from the Capillitas mining district, in the Catamarca Province of Argentina. This material is well-known amongst collectors, as this is the only locality in the world that produces these banded stalactites and concretions of layered rhodochrosite. It is known colloquially as "Inca Rose", although there is no evidence to support that the deposit was exploited so long ago. It first appears in the literature in 1873, though natives likely mined the placer deposits for gold in pre-Colombian times. It is stunning when cut and polished, often showing beautiful patterns and layered growth - much like the rings on the cross section of a tree.
This piece consists of several rhodochrosite stalactites that grew together - the off-white cores accentuated beautifully by successive generations of deep cherry red rhodo and subsequent off-white generations. A bit of chrysocolla can by seen adorning the outer rind. The piece has been sliced and polished to reveal a gorgeous pattern of color. I would consider this more of a collectors piece, rather than a lapidary piece due to the small amount of red rhodochrosite left within the bulk of the specimen, as well as the fine quality and color of the red areas. It is in good condition with no significant damage to report. Custom mounting is available at checkout.
Dimensions: 2.09 x 1.75 x 1.5 in (5.3 x 4.4 x 3.8 cm)
