Description
This remarkable Rhodochrosite comes to us from the Champion Mine, near Ouray, Colorado. Located near the top of Cinnamon Pass, between Ouray & Lake City, along the Engineer Pass jeep road, the Champion Mine and Mill was established in the 1890s and operated until around 1919. While it produced Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Acanthite, Covellite, and possibly some Gold, Thorite and Monazite, it was a major Silver supplier and is now most famous for its specific and recognizable Rhodochrosite.
Unlike the Sunnyside and Sweet Home Mines, the Champion Rhodochrosite is special in its own way. With a slight dusting of Quartz and Pyrite, the Rhodochrosite crystals are small but stunning, dotted all over the Sphalerite and Galena matrix. For any element collectors, this would make for one beautiful Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Lead, Silicon, Sulfur, Carbon and Oxygen sample!
Rhodochrosite has a hardness of 3½-4 and a specific gravity of 3.7. It was named in 1813 by Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann from the Greek ρόδο, “rose”, and χρώς, “coloring”, referring to its color. It’s the state mineral for Colorado, and there’s no question as to why – besides Sweet Home, some of the coolest Rhodochrosite can be found in Colorado!
As it’s one of the more valuable gems you can find, be sure to keep your eye out for a pink rock like this!
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