Rhodochrosite

Excellent gemmy reddish barley sugar orange scalenohedral crystals of Rhodochrosite measuring to 1.4 cm richly cover a pitch black to delicate pumpkin tinged manganese-iron oxide matrix. A classic miniature Rhodochrosite from the Uchucchacua mine north of Lima in Peru.  The Uchucchacua mines works a complexly mineralised vein system of epigenetic hydrothermal origin.  This mine is well known for its unusual and complex mineralisation for which it is now type locality to ten species, although Rhodochrosite is not one.  With its rich reddish colour, brilliant lustre and pleasing contrast against the sooty black matrix, this is a superb small miniature Peruvian Rhodochrosite.