Rhodochrosite

specimen number:
2063583

location:
Capillitas, Andalgala, Catamarca, Argentina

description:
A mass of pink banded rhodochrosite, this cut and polished on one face to show the interior. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Situated in Andalagala Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina, the Capillitas Mining District is a celebrated hydrothermal epithermal deposit hosted within Neogene volcanic rocks and granitic basement structures. Originally prospected during pre-Columbian times by the Incas for copper and silver, formal commercial extraction resumed during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, eventually shifting focus toward ornamental stone and specimen recovery. The locality is world-renowned for its exceptional stalactitic and banded deposits of rhodochrosite, a manganese carbonate mineral displaying striking concentric layers of cherry-red, pink, and white. Formed by late-stage hydrothermal solutions filling vein cavities and fractures, these vibrant mineral formations are carved into carvings and polished slabs, making Capillitas one of the most iconic sources of gem-grade rhodochrosite in the world.

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