Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Prov., Lima Dept., Peru
7.6 cm tall x 12.7 cm wide
This is one of the premier rhodochrosites from the Uchucchacua Mine. There are three major rhodochrosite producing localities: Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, N’Chwaning Mine in South Africa, and the Uchucchacua and Huallapon Mines in Peru. Each mine is unique. Each of them has put forth world class rhodochrosite specimens–all of them the same species, but incomparable.
This rhodochrosite has large and elongated crystals, combining scalenohedral and rhombohedral crystallography. The color shades from a deep purplish red, almost burgundy, to various hues of orange; giving the crystals a bicolor effect. The rhodochrosite sits on top of a slick manganese oxide matrix coated with quartz crystals. The red, black, and white create multiple points of contrast.