This is a very appealing rhodochrosite, unusual in its combination with both fluorite and tetrahedrite. The tetrahedrite occurs as sharp , metallic crystals and may actually be overtopping large bornite crystals, it seems. The piece is very nearly pristine with but a few faint marks of wear seen by the educated eye only, and NO restoration or repairs whatsoever. The large central crystal is 5 cm across, and it is draped with fluorite and smaller rhodo crystals. The color I would rate as an 8.5 on a scale of 10 - and I can say honestly that it is what we called good color back when they were being mined - as opposed to what often passes for "acceptable color" on specimens I see at market today. The lustre is high, and the color saturation is uniform. This is an EXCELLENT piece overall, and has a huge amount of color for the price (again, considering what else I have seen on the market these days). The fluorites are sparkling and a nice lavender hue, in person. I purchased this piece for my private collection, of fine large Sweet Home rhodochrosite specimens, in 2006 at the Munich show. I have held it since, and am selling a few of my private collection rhodochrosites now only to finance acquiring a yet larger specimen. Jeff Scovil Photo (on green background).
Attribution: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
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