Rhodochrosite

specimen number:
2242061

location:
Tight Pocket, Sweet Home Mine, Park Co., Colorado, USA

description:
An attractive miniature for this American classic, a mostly gemmy red rhombohedral crystal of rhodochrosite 2.0 cm on edge across crystalline quartz with minor hubnerite. In good condition. At one time the specimen was part of the collection of Phil Martin.

The Sweet Home Mine, located near Alma in Park County, Colorado, is situated high on Mount Bross within the Mosquito Range. Geologically, it is a hydrothermal vein deposit hosted in Precambrian granite, where mineralization occurred during the Tertiary period as part of the Colorado Mineral Belt activity. While originally opened as a silver mine, it became world-famous for its incredible rhodochrosite crystals, which occur as rhombohedrons with a vivid cherry-red color, often found in association with quartz, fluorite, and tetrahedrite. Historically, the mine was first located in 1873 and operated sporadically for silver throughout the late 19th century. However, its most significant era began in 1991 when the Sweet Home Rhodo partnership, led by Bryan Lees, reopened the site specifically for specimen mining. This modern phase of operation lasted until 2004, producing many of the finest rhodochrosite specimens ever found, including the famous "Alma King."

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