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 one is a nice example of single elongated stalactite - its bubbly rind an off-white color with a staining of iron oxides, while its inner core is vivid red, gemmy rhodochrosite surrounded by further off-white generations. The bottom has been sliced and polished to reveal these layers, leaving the "terminal" end intact. The specimen is in good condition, with no significant damage to report.
Dimensions: 1.83 x 0.94 x 0.72 in (4.6 x 2.4 x 1.8 cm)
