1.5" Polished Rhodochrosite Breccia "Egg" - Argentina

This is a small, unique, hand-polished Rhodochrosite breccia egg. Small chunks of lustrous metallic pyrite can be found scattered throughout the egg. The Rhodochrosite comes from the famous Capillitas Mine in Argentina and exhibits beautiful pink banding.

About Argentina Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite from the Capillitas Mine in Catamarca, Argentina, is renowned for its striking pink to deep red coloration, often displayed in intricate, concentric banding. Formed in hydrothermal veins within a Miocene-aged volcanic complex, this rhodochrosite commonly occurs as stalactitic or botryoidal masses that are sliced and polished to reveal vibrant, bullseye-like patterns. Unlike the well-known transparent crystals from Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, Capillitas rhodochrosite is typically opaque and prized for its ornamental and lapidary appeal. Its unique visual character, shaped by rhythmic mineral deposition over millions of years, makes it one of the most distinctive and collectible varieties of rhodochrosite in the world.

About Pyrite

The mineral pyrite, also known as iron pyrite, is commonly referred to as Fool's Gold because its metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold. In the old mining days, pyrite was sometimes mistaken for gold.

It is the most common of the sulfide minerals with the chemical formula FeS2. Pyrite crystals occur in many shapes and habits, including cubes of all sizes, penetration twin cubes, pyritohedral clusters and as small druzy crystals that can exhibit a beautiful glistening effect.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Rhodochrosite & Pyrite
LOCATION
Capillitas Mine, Catamarca Province, Argentina
SIZE
1.5" long
CATEGORY
ITEM
#113384