Rhodochrosite, Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima, Peru
Size: 7.8x7.7x6.5 cm
Species: Rhodochrosite
Locality: Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima, Peru
Description: When first looking at this specimen I was simply struck by the purely aesthetic nature of the piece with a glistening undamaged 1.3cm bright red rhodochrosite crystal sitting dead center with a waterfall of sparkling red rhodochrosite crystals tumbling down below it. Then as I looked closer at the specimen I was even more impressed at the complexity of the paragenesis presented on this specimen and the diversity of minerals I found when looking closely. For those un-familiar with the Uchucchacua Mine it is a Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn replacement epithermal vein replacement and skarn. It was amazingly diverse in it’s mineralogy due a complex sequence of multiple mineralizing events. The mine produced 10 Type Locality specimens and 71 minerals are reported as valid from this locality on Mindat. The matrix consists of a carbonate crosscut by epithermal sulfide veins of silver bearing galena intermixed with small amount of pyrite, chalcopyrite, silver sulfides, and more. When peering into the vug it is possible to see light green octahedral fluorites under the first generation of low temperature opaque pink rhodochrosite. Then a second generation of higher temperature rhodochrosite deposition produced the lustrous translucent red rhodochrosite crystals. When looking closely with a loupe or a microscope it is noted that there are sprays of acicular and some ropey matte black crystals that are likely an unknown mix of silver sulfide crystals. As if that was not enough there was a final mineralizing event that produced complex colorless fluorite crystals that are scattered across the various minerals deposited before it. A wonderfully complex specimen that truly entertains the eye and the mind of the viewer.
Please scroll down on website for video.
ID: 26459
Size: 7.8x7.7x6.5 cm
Species: Rhodochrosite
Locality: Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima, Peru
Description: When first looking at this specimen I was simply struck by the purely aesthetic nature of the piece with a glistening undamaged 1.3cm bright red rhodochrosite crystal sitting dead center with a waterfall of sparkling red rhodochrosite crystals tumbling down below it. Then as I looked closer at the specimen I was even more impressed at the complexity of the paragenesis presented on this specimen and the diversity of minerals I found when looking closely. For those un-familiar with the Uchucchacua Mine it is a Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn replacement epithermal vein replacement and skarn. It was amazingly diverse in it’s mineralogy due a complex sequence of multiple mineralizing events. The mine produced 10 Type Locality specimens and 71 minerals are reported as valid from this locality on Mindat. The matrix consists of a carbonate crosscut by epithermal sulfide veins of silver bearing galena intermixed with small amount of pyrite, chalcopyrite, silver sulfides, and more. When peering into the vug it is possible to see light green octahedral fluorites under the first generation of low temperature opaque pink rhodochrosite. Then a second generation of higher temperature rhodochrosite deposition produced the lustrous translucent red rhodochrosite crystals. When looking closely with a loupe or a microscope it is noted that there are sprays of acicular and some ropey matte black crystals that are likely an unknown mix of silver sulfide crystals. As if that was not enough there was a final mineralizing event that produced complex colorless fluorite crystals that are scattered across the various minerals deposited before it. A wonderfully complex specimen that truly entertains the eye and the mind of the viewer.
Please scroll down on website for video.
ID: 26459
Size: 7.8x7.7x6.5 cm
Species: Rhodochrosite
Locality: Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon District, Oyon Province, Lima, Peru
Description: When first looking at this specimen I was simply struck by the purely aesthetic nature of the piece with a glistening undamaged 1.3cm bright red rhodochrosite crystal sitting dead center with a waterfall of sparkling red rhodochrosite crystals tumbling down below it. Then as I looked closer at the specimen I was even more impressed at the complexity of the paragenesis presented on this specimen and the diversity of minerals I found when looking closely. For those un-familiar with the Uchucchacua Mine it is a Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn replacement epithermal vein replacement and skarn. It was amazingly diverse in it’s mineralogy due a complex sequence of multiple mineralizing events. The mine produced 10 Type Locality specimens and 71 minerals are reported as valid from this locality on Mindat. The matrix consists of a carbonate crosscut by epithermal sulfide veins of silver bearing galena intermixed with small amount of pyrite, chalcopyrite, silver sulfides, and more. When peering into the vug it is possible to see light green octahedral fluorites under the first generation of low temperature opaque pink rhodochrosite. Then a second generation of higher temperature rhodochrosite deposition produced the lustrous translucent red rhodochrosite crystals. When looking closely with a loupe or a microscope it is noted that there are sprays of acicular and some ropey matte black crystals that are likely an unknown mix of silver sulfide crystals. As if that was not enough there was a final mineralizing event that produced complex colorless fluorite crystals that are scattered across the various minerals deposited before it. A wonderfully complex specimen that truly entertains the eye and the mind of the viewer.
Please scroll down on website for video.
ID: 26459
