Rhodochrosite: N’Chwaning Mines, Hotazel, Kalahari District, Kuruman, South Africa

Description

Species: Rhodochrosite

Locality: N’Chwaning Mines, Hotazel, Kalahari District, Kuruman, South Africa

Size: 6.5 x 5 x 2 cm.

Rhodochrosite from South Africa’s N’Chwaning mines needs no introduction and occurs in many different styles and color shades. This is a fine example of the almost botryoidal “flat wheat sheave” type, where scalenohedral crystals have broad basal terminations that are connected together. The color is a deep rich red and it really glows when backlit even a little. Has a great provenance too with labels from Jewel Tunnel Imports, Joe Cilen, Paul & Janet Clifford, and the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. Rare! Mark Cross photos.