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 particular piece is a gorgeous nodule of vibrant, red-pink rhodochrosite crystals that are surrounded by an off-white banded rhodochrosite. The piece has been sawn and the front face polished to reveal a stunning floral pattern. The "center" is a flower-like assemblage of actual rhodochrosite crystals in cross-section. The initial outer rind was a bubbly, off-white rhodo, but it was overgrown by a later generation of vibrant pink rhodo, which adorns the top of the specimen and adds an extra aesthetic to the piece. I would consider this a collectors piece but it could make several very nice slices if a lapidary wanted to risk it. There is no significant damage worth mentioning, and custom mounting is available at checkout.
Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.63 x 1.25 in (5.8 x 4.1 x 3.1 cm)
