UPDATED on 12/7/2009 with NEW Rhodo Specimens!

Photo by Joe Budd

Click on the image above for a much larger photograph!

MIN#R-1 NEW!

Gorgeous and very rich plate of Rhodochrosite rhombs with Quartz needles!
What a beautiful cabinet plate! It's the finest Hedgehog Pocket Rhodochrosite that I've
owned and the color is a big reason. It's very intense for a Hedgehog piece, with the rhombs
well scattered among the Quartz needles! The overall appearance of this plate reminds me
of a specimen from an earlier pocket. For someone looking for a stunning specimen of
Rhodochrosite with full coverage and great aesthetics, this would be the perfect piece!
From the Hedgehog Pocket, Main Stope Drift, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 14.6 cm by 12.1 cm in total size.
Price $25,000

Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#R-2 NEW!

EXCEPTIONAL PLATE OF CLASSIC RHODOCHROSITE!
The above specimen is a Climax Mine Rhodochrosite on Quartz point matrix!
Anyone who knows Rhodos knows just how incredibly difficult it is to find a good Climax
Rhodochrosite. Occasionally I see incomplete rhombs without matrix or even rarer - a partial or
coated rhomb on matrix. But the holy grail for Rhodo collectors is a good sized plate of Quartz
crystals with large, complete, deeply colored (and uncoated) rhombs and it took me over twelve
years to find a specimen that met every one of those qualities. Quite frankly, I haven't seen
or owned a better specimen from the Climax Mine! This specimen is so good that it could
be confused for a Sweet Home or even Pasto Bueno Rhodo but it is 100% Climax which
makes it so much rarer and all the more special. It's also in excellent condition with only
a scattering of incomplete Quartz points to speak of and they definately don't detract!
Atop some of the points is a slight coating of Calcite which leads to the gorgeous rhombs
of Rhodochrosite which are complete and glow a translucent cherry-red. They measure
4.6 cm, 2.6 cm, and several of 1 cm in size! I count at least a dozen rhombs of various sizes!
From the Ceresco Ridge Area of the Climax Mine, Fremont Pass, Lake County, Colorado.
Measures 8.9 cm by 11.3 cm in total size.
Ex. Gerstley Mineral Collection
Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Comes with a custom made, labeled stand
Price $95,000

Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#R-3 NEW!

EXCEPTIONAL!! Stunningly beautiful Rhodochrosite with sea-green Fluorite, Bertrandite, and Pyrite!
A beautiful Chinese Rhodochrosite plate with flattened Rhodo rhombs that are translucent and sharp.
The color could best be described as a rich hot-pink tilting toward the reddish hue. The Fluorite is a
light sea-green and is further highlighted by the dramatic pink spray of Bertrandite in the very front!
From the Wudong Mine, Liubao, Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China.
Measures 6.3 cm by 8 cm in total size.
Price $2450

MIN#R-4 NEW!

Stunning specimen of Rhodochrosite on needle Quartz with Hubnerite!
This is one of the finest Hedgehog miniatures that I've seen! The largest rhomb
measures 2.2 cm in size and displays a vibrance of color that you usually don't find
in Hedgehog Pocket specimens. All the Rhodochrosite surfaces are glassy and complete
with some natural facial stepping on the left corner. The rhomb is completely pristine!
From the Hedgehog Pocket, Main Stope Drift, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 5 cm by 4.8 cm in size.
Price $5500

Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#R-5 NEW!

Gorgeous red crystals of Rhodochrosite in cluster!
This miniature is pure eye candy and exhibits some of the best Rhodo color the Sweet Home
was known for. This would make a wonderful additional to a miniature collection or suite.
From the Raise Top Pocket, Mini King Raise, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 3.2 cm by 4 cm in size.
Price $2250

MIN#R-6 NEW!

Gorgeous combo of gem red Rhodochrosite rhombs with frosted lavender Fluorite and Tetrahedrite!
Also with Quartz, this specimen has everything for the Rhodo collector, including the finest color!
From Steve's Pocket, Fluorite Raise, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 5.5 cm by 5.8 cm in size.
Price $4500

Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#R-7 NEW!

SUPERB!! Stunning specimen featuring isolated Rhodochrosite rhombs with Quartz!
A beautiful specimen featuring three large cherry-red rhombs with two smaller rhombs set atop
white Quartz matrix, surrounding four large Quartz points in the middle. For the record, these are
the largest Quartz points I've ever seen from the Sweet Home. They look more like Arkansas
Quartz than the usual needle Quartz you see from this mine. This incredible plate is from the
John's Pocket and like most specimens from that find, the Rhodochrosite crystals have an
incredible deep cherry color under a delicate matt surface. The thing that's cool about that
however is that it's an attractive matt finish and not an ugly one. The rich color of the rhombs
comes through loud and clear without any paleness or frosting! I think the photograph clearly
demonstrates that. The largest rhomb to the lower left measures nearly 3 cm tip to tip and the
rhomb above it measures 2.7 cm in size. The largest Quartz crystal measures 5 cm in length!
It has a rehealed termination while the other Quartz points have full, complete terminations.
From the John's Pocket, Watercourse Raise, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 9 cm by 9 cm in total size.
Ex. Goings Mineral Collection
Price $7500

MIN#R-8 NEW!

Deeply colored rhombs of Rhodochrosite atop needle Quartz with Pyrite and Tetrahedrite!
The second of two gorgeous small cabs, this specimen also has that rich color we all look
for in Sweet Home Rhodos. These glassy crystals are well placed among the Quartz needles.
From the Pincushion II Pocket, Fluorite Raise, Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Park County, Colorado.
Measures 5 cm by 7.4 cm in size.
Price $5500

MIN#R-9 NEW!

Sparkling reddish-pink Rhodochrosite (botryoidal) on matrix!
From Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Measures 6.5 cm by 7 cm in size.
Price $285

MIN#R-10 NEW!

Gemmy, red rhombs of Rhodochrosite with Fluorite, Sphalerite and Pyrite!
What an incredible Chinese Rhodochrosite! The rhombs are slightly etched which
is normal but it doesn't detract from the transparency and translucence of these glassy
crystals! The color is some of the deepest red I've seen to date from China and very
impressive. If Chinese Rhodo gets much better, it will be the equal of the Sweet Home!
From the Wuton (Wudong) Mine, Liubao, Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China.
Measures 4.1 cm by 5 cm in size.
Price $1500

MIN#R-11 NEW!

Gorgeous deep cherry-red Rhodochrosite rhombs with Quartz on Tetrahedrite matrix!
Super gemmy and bright, these rhombs are big and glassy with the largest measuring 3 cm length-wise
and over 2 cm across the face! This rhomb has some slight natural contact (pocket contact) along the
left corner but this is not damage. There's also a small bit of corner flaking, also naturally occurring,
on the left rhomb but the size and color of the crystals easily overwhelms both areas of imperfection.
From the Millennium Pocket of the Fluorite raise, Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Colorado.
Measures 8 cm by 6 cm in total size.
Ex. Goings Mineral Collection
Price $8500

MIN#R-12 NEW!

Gorgeous specimen of red Rhodochrosite rhombs with purple Fluorite!
These Chinese Rhodos just keep getting better and better every time they appear at a show.
I think the specimens from this year's Tucson are the best yet. As is the norm, they have a
slight etching to some of the rhombs but the color and gemminess has improved to the point
where they are close to rivaling the Sweet Home specimens. This plate features a beautiful
arrangement of Rhodochrosite rhombs which are then accented by transparent crystals of
purple Fluorite. The color combination is amazing to say the least! Also with Pyrite accents.
From the Wuton (Wudong) Mine, Liubao, Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China.
Measures 6.2 cm by 9 cm in size.
Price $3250

MIN#R-13 NEW!

GEM rhombs of Rhodochrosite in cluster with Quartz!
One of the finest Rhodo specimens I've seen in recent months. Good quality
Rhodochrosite with decent color is getting almost impossible to find (and afford)!
From the Hedgehog Pocket, Main Stope Drift, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 6.5 cm by 6 cm in size.
Price $4850

MIN#R-14 NEW!

At first glace, this would be a great looking plate of Sweet Home Rhodochrosite!
It's actually a Chinese Rhodochrosite specimen however and the finds from there
continue to amaze as they get better and better. I wouldn't call them Sweet Home
quality but they are getting very close. These 1 cm rhombs are translucent with
the best color to yet appear from China. Also, the matrix is now a more sturdy
Quartz needle on Chalcedony in contrast to the slightly fragile Dolomitic matrix
of years past. This was one of the finest plates available at this year's show!
From Wuzhou, Guangxi Province of China.
Measures 6 cm by 10.4 cm in size.
Price $3250

MIN#R-16 Available!

Deep red Rhodochrosite rhomb perched atop blue and lavender Fluorite crystals in cluster!
This is one beautiful specimen! The Rhodo rhomb is a deep translucent red with complete
faces on the front and stepped faces on the backside. There are also some Quartz needles.
From the Clay Pocket, Main Stope Drift, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 5.1 cm by 4 cm in size.
Price $2250

MIN#R-17 NEW!

RARE COMBO!! Lustrous crystals of Acanthite with Rhodochrosite, Dolomite, and Fluorite!
I think there were only two of these very rare combination specimens in Denver and this one
really stood out. The Rhodos aren't perfect and exhibit some stress fracturing but still provide
a beautiful backdrop for the clusters of stacked Acanthite crystals! The Acanthites cover the
surface well and the association between Rhodochrosite and Acanthite is always a great find!
From Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China.
Measures 7.5 cm by 7 cm in size.
Price $3450

MIN#R-18 Available!

Gemmy, cherry-red rhomb of Rhodochrosite with Quartz and Apatite xls!
From Nate's Pocket, Mini King Raise, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado.
Measures 2.2 cm by 3.2 cm in size on a matrix of Pyrite.
Price $385

MIN#R-19 Available!

Cute rhombs of Rhodochrosite atop Quartz needles with Tetrahedrite and Pyrite!
From the Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Colorado. Measures 2.6 cm by 3.7 cm.
Price $245

MIN#R-21 Available!

Sweet little Rhodochrosite cluster from Montana!
From the Emma Mine in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana.
Measures 2.2 cm by 2.6 cm in size with excellent color and glassy faces!
Price $285

** MISSING SPECIMEN!! **

This specimen was stolen at the Tucson Mineral Show in 2007.
(If anyone sees this Rhodochrosite, please let know. There is a reward!)

EXCEPTIONAL!! Very rare specimen of Rhodochrosite on drusy Quartz matrix!
These rhombs are so red that some may confuse them with Sweet Home Rhodochrosite!
This fine specimen is from the Grizzly Bear Mine in Ouray County, Colorado. It
is the finest example of Rhodochrosite ON MATRIX that I have seen from this scarce
locality in many years. The rarity of a specimen of this quality from the Grizzly Bear cannot
be underestimated. I see more quality Rhodochrosites from the Sunnyside than I do from
here and the only locality that I've seen less matrix specimens from is the Climax Mine.
This piece is definately a major find for any Rhodochrosite or Colorado mineral collector.
It measures 9.5 cm by 8.7 cm with 3 cm rhombs! The specimen is labeled as circa 1969.

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