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 is a nice stalactite with good pink crystals as the outer rind - its inner core is deep red rhodochrosite, followed by successive generations of off-white to pink. 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: 1.5 x 0.94 x 0.85 in (3.8 x 2.4 x 2.1 cm)
