Detailed information
Species
Rhodochrosite, Goethite
Dimensions
27 x 21 x 17
mm
Weight
12 g
Locality
N'Chwaning Mines Kuruman, Kalahari Mn. Field N. Cape Province, South Africa
Condition
NET
This very large thumbnail Rhodochrosite from N'Chwaning mines is a small but exquisite piece. Unusually, the matrix is Goethite - iron ore not manganese ore - as wood-like stalactitic aggregates upon which glossy bright pink platy Rhodochrosite crystals form flower-like aggregates. Side on, the Goethite shows colour-zoned brown and orange-brown bands just like looking at a slice of dark wood. The Rhodochrosite crystals are beautiful, with the individual rosettes reaching 8 mm in diameter with no damage. This might be a very small specimen but it is top quality for aesthetics and N'Chwaning mines Rhodochrosites are so hard to come by now.