A fine, glassy transparent rhomb of Rhodochrosite with great provenance. From the famed Wallace Gould Levison Collection obtained prior to 1897, from mineral dealer AN Fuller of Lawrence, Kansas. The Fuller Label is included. The locality on that label is only Lake County, Colorado. Several Colorado collectors agree that this is typical and certainly from the John Reed Mine which fits the form, color, associations and vintage for this piece. We are fairly confident this is correct but with such attributions going back over 125 years there is a possibility of error. A tiny bit of adhering sulphide is noted, probably altered Pyrite. The rhomb has both natural crystal faces and some cleavage areas. Unusually bright color this has a rich intense red not known from many places. A choice vintage Colorado specimen.
Esthetic old miniature with a large number of associated species. Most obvious is the scattering of pink Rhodochrosite rhombs in singles and clusters on Quartz crystals. The dark ball-like structures are rosettes and groups of sharply crystalized Chalcocite. Under magnification nearly all crystals seen are twins and have a flat hexagonal form. These are really fine from most any angle but obviously tiny and best appreciated under magnification. The specimen is is excellent condition as seen, it has a very old label from a French collection which misidentifies the Rhodochrosite as Rhodonite. We checked it. Cananea is a mining locality that has been active since the 1700 era and still has some active sites. Very little is seen today in specimens, pieces like this date back to the pre 1950 era, and can be far older.
Rhodochrosite - classic German specimen
stock #23.1-341-(D543)
Wolf Mine, Daaden-Herdorf, Altenkirchen
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Germany
10.4 x 8.3 x 5.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1350
Spring 23
A big, blocky dark matrix with an open cavity of contrasting bright Rhodochrosite crystals. These Rhodos are all scalenohedral and transparent, with glassy luster. Most crystals are quite perfect and complete but a few do have cleaves though not very easily seen. Classic old material ,this piece from the collection of the Delaware University Mineral Museum. The largest crystals are just under 1 CM in size, the color is an orange-red which stands out from the nearly black matrix. For many years the world's best locality of Rhodochrosite was the Wolf Mine. That is however no longer the case but these are still highly respected, easily the best Rhodos from Europe, and actually quite rare in this quality.
A small slab section of Rhodochrosite stalactite with good red color and complete all around. This shows the radiating crystal structure or flower-like form and not the usual "bullseye". Looks fine on both sides, this is from the famed Capillitas (Argentina) which is the only place in the world where such things are found.
Rhodochrosite pseudo after Barite crystals
stock #8.AE-777
Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province
Junin Department,
Peru
11.1 x 11.3 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $700
Spring 23
An attractive and really unusual Rhodochrosite from this interesting mine in Peru, in a small find more than 20 years ago, rather different in style from the other Rhodos found there. The matrix is like a layer cake of Sulfides and Rhodo with the top layer well-crystalized. This shows well the shape of the original prismatic Barite crystals some of which are standing on edge. There are also a few "cylinders" or tubes which are noted in this find. The Barite is completely replaced, this is now all Rhodochrosite with the outer surface composed of tiny, sparkly crystals. The color on this specimen is more vibrant and redder than other pseudomorphs I have seen, an attractive piece.
Bladed Rhodochrosite crystals in a rosette cluster on contrasting matrix from older finds at the Wutong Mine. The Rhodochrosite blades have small bright purple Fluorites nestled between them. The overall look is colorful and vibrant in person. The largest Rhodo crystal is 1.6 CM across. There is contacting on the backside of the specimen, the front or display side is in fine shape, not damaged and nicely composed. A choice multi specie specimen from early finds at this important locality. This habit and style is unique in the mineral world, no other Rhodo locality has produced specimens that look anything like this. A great general display piece but especially a fine addition to any Chinese or Rhodochrosite suite.
Very fine Rhodochrosite on Quartz from the famed Wallace Gould Levison (NYC, USA) collection obtained by trade in 1894 from a Mr. Gruzig. The large matrix holds an open cavity with Rhodochrosite balls and sparkling small crystals mixed with Quartz. The original locality listed in Levisons collection ledger calls the locality Sieben Geberge in Hungary. He later amended his label to Felsobanyo, Hungary. This is now Baia Spirie, Romania. This period was a dynamic epoch in the Austrio-Hungarian Empire, so localities were often renamed as borders, languages and nationalities changed. No matter the locality changes, this is a very well-formed specimen in excellent condition. The original Levison handwritten label is attached to the piece, and we also include a photocopy of this page from his collection notes/ ledger. Levison was an important American mineral collector and inventor (first patented movie camera etc). This piece is his number 1407 from a collection that eventually reached over 5,500. In addition to being an attractive specimen this has well-documented provenance and a good historic pedigree. Better and a little more vivid in person.
Rhodochrosite on Quartz
stock #22.1-541
Pasto Bueno, Pampas, Pallasca Province
Ancash Department,
Peru
4 x 2.1 x 1.6 (miniature)
price: $290
Fall 22
Super cute small miniature of a single terminated Quartz crystal decorated with red-pink Rhodochrosite crystals. The Rhodos are in the rhomb form, fairly sharp with some stepped edges, complete on all sides and undamaged. From the classic finds at Pasto Bueno (Peru), this is an nicely esthetic specimen of a style not seen in a long time.
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