This is a beautiful cluster of rhodochrosite crystals from the Wutong Mine.

The Wutong Mine was originally a small polymetallic mine (lead-zinc-silver) with relatively small production. Beginning the early-mid 2000s, the mine became the focus of a specimen mining venture, seeking rhodochrosite. The well-known specimen mining dealership Collectors’ Edge worked in collaboration with the mine owners and produced excellent specimens for a short time period (as seems to be the nature of rhodochrosite localities!). This specimen is from that time.

This rhodochrosite is about the colour, showcasing hues of very deep pink through to medium-pink and a little lighter. All but one of these photos are balanced to daylight shade (because this is the standard for all photos on the website).  However, daylight shade is not the lighting under which this specimen glows – this specimen looks fantastic under 50W halogen lighting, which was the lighting source John had in the case where he had it on display. The final photo here was taken using a 50W halogen lamp, to show the difference.

The crystal surfaces are finely patterned, and a small number of surfaces have recrystallization patterns on them. In excellent condition, a couple of small crystals at the right are incomplete, but this does not stand out. A wonderful splash of colour from the John S. White collection.