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 is a concretion of various hues of rhodochrosite, from tan to off-white to pink to red. The different generations create a mosaic-like effect. The piece has been cut flat and polished on one side and rounded and polished on the opposite side. It's rather thick so it does hold some lapidary potential and is free of any significant damage. Custom mounting is available at checkout.
Dimensions: 2.28 x 2.08 x 0.88 in (5.7 x 5.2 x 2.2 cm)
