Locality Information

Rhodochrosite – A tour around the world in search of fine crystals

With such a simple chemical make up, MnCO3, Rhodochrosite is found all over the earth. It is commonly found as a mineral in hydrothermic ore deposits, principally deposits with silver, lead, zinc and copper. Rhodochrosite is commonly associated with fluorite, quartz, dolomite, siderite and other manganese minerals.

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Many deposits of rhodochrosite are simply grains and massive material in various shades of pink, often with impurities of calcium and iron, among others. However, several world famous deposits are well known, some of which have produced legendary specimens, found in the premier museums and private collections.

Around the world with Rhodochosite would start with Africa, to the world famous manganese mines of the Kalahari Desert. Known by many names, Hotezel, Kuruman, N’Chwaning, Black Rock Desert, one simple fact is that many outstandingly fine crystals have come from these dark black ore bodies. Known as some of the brightest red crystals, these can form in scalehedrons clustered together to form large plates of crystals. One specimen, called “The Snail” has been subject to offers of over a million dollars! One of the mine owners, Desmond Sacco, owns a rhodochrosite collection from the mines worth a small fortune. As you can imagine, specimens of fine quality from these mines are highly desirable.

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Heading up north through Africa we come to a large manganese deposit called the Moanda Mine, in south east Gabon. This mine produces nearly a third of the commercial manganese ore in the world and rarely small vugs of rhodochrosite occur in the black veins. The crystals are never quite large, however, the form in large plates of crystals, tiny scalehedrons all standing upright on the matrix of sooty manganese ore.

Heading North we come to Europe and the home to the old world classics, Germany. The Wolf Mine in Siegerland siderite district is a young mine in the mix of mines that date back to celtic mining. Operating from the 1920’s until the 1960’s, this location is responsible for producing some mind blowing red crystals which are a must have for any museum.

Rhodochrosite crystals from Cavnic, Romania are well known, however, never have the classic cherry red color. Instead, many of them are light pink, due to impurities of other minerals. The crystal forms and associations with quartz and metallic ore metals makes them prized specimens from Europe.

Over in Kazakhstan, masses of deeply colored bubbly botryodial rhodochrosite are produced in large quantities, along with nice crystals along with fluorite and bertrandite from the Kounrad Massif.

Heading West, the next great location for Rhodochrosite is a fairly new locality, the mines of the Wuzhou Prefecture. Amazingly large crystals with complex form and great accessory minerals like purple fluorite and quartz crystals. Wudong has produced wonderful fan shaped flat crystals. With all of the activity in China to produce great specimens, hundreds of collectors wondered if China would ever produce something this fine, now they have been answered!

In Japan, several mines produced rhodochrosite as a massive material, forming in banded masses on matrix. Commonly associated with metallic ores such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite. One mine produced over 100,000 TONS of rhodochrosite in ONE year for ornamental use.

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Traveling west across the Pacific Ocean, we end up in Argentina, the producer of the worlds most famous lapidary variety of rhodochrosite to date, the Capillitas Mine in Catamarca Argentina. For decades, this mine has produced the bulk of the rhodochrosite rough that ends up being made into polished goods and set into jewelry. The unmistakable stalactite sections are a popular polished item to own for even the most diehard crystal aficionado. Worm like stalactite clusters are always in high demand.

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Peru is a land rich with Manganese carbonates, as seen at the Uchucchacua Mine, in the Oyon province. A noted silver/manganese deposit, these sharp gem crystals have been popular items on the collector’s market for several years. Other deposits, like the Pachapaqui District and the Manuelita Mine produced light pink crystals of various habits on metallic ore matrix. One little tungsten deposit in the mountains called Pasto Bueno produced amazingly large, cherry red rhombs of rhodochrosite. Formed along with Huebnerite and Fluorite, these cherry red crystals could grow to impressive sizes, with the standard being around 5 cm.

Brazil has produced a few nice specimens of rhodochrosite, but nothing mind blowing.

Mexico has several deposits that produce rhodochrosite, but the main one of note is the famous Potosi Mine, where the cave of swords and cave of giant selenite crystals were found. The crystals form as blood red scalenohedral crystals, uncommonly, more abundantly found as pink botryoidal masses.

The world famous mines of Franklin New Jersey produced some large crystals of rhodochrosite, often in clusters of large crystals, that few will part with and few museums own. These specimens come from the days when the mine was operating, which are long past.

Over in Butte Montana, lovely clusters of rhombs are found, however, the color is rather mutted and drab pink.

The real star of rhodochrosite crystals comes from the state of Colorado. The mines of the San Juans produced rhodochrosite crystals in quality suitable for faceting. Climax produced bright red crystals of high quality, along with some other workings. The premier for rhodochrosite crystals in North America, if not the world is the Sweet Home Mine in the Alma district. Amazing red crystals of exceedingly large size have been produced from this mine, in an abundance, but not an abundance that would let everyone who wanted one of these fine specimens obtain one. Most museums have one or two on display in their perminate collections. Found with fluorite, quartz crystals, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite and unmatched for color and form.

The last location on our trip around the world in search of fine Rhodochrosite crystals, a real odd location, as in, more associations with various minerals, forms, habits, and pseudomorphs. Mont Saint Hilaire is known as a wonderland of mineral species, but one thing I learned early in mineral collecting was the fact that more varieties of rhodochrosite forms are found in MSH than anywhere else in the world. Saddle shaped crystals, tubular replacements, rhombs, rosettes, hexagonal disks and triangular gems that are out of this world. Not your typical array of crystals and certainly a fine place to end our journey!