Rhodochrosite

This magnificent cluster of intergrown rhombic crystals of Rhodochrosite is from Huayllapon mine at Pasto Bueno in the Ancash Department of Peru, towards the north west of the country.  The rhombohedral crystals are developed with edges up to 2 cm and range between creamy-cherry red, scarlet cherry and, where tending to more gemmy, strawberry red.  The more gemmy zones and crystals are few yet present, whereas the majority are cloudy and translucent.  The crystals have a matt lustre, caused by a pervasive extremely thin coating of more granular Rhodochrosite.  The one crystal which tends towards gemmy measures 8 mm on its longest edge.  The prisms are built from epitaxially aligned smaller rhombic prisms, giving a blocky, Lego-like appearance.  A choice and aesthetic Rhodochrosite from the Huayllapon mine in Peru.