Rhodochrosite

specimen number:
9862016

location:
Capillitas, Andalgala, Catamarca, Argentina

description:
Rhombohedral crystals of rhodochrosite covering the top of a banded pink stalactite. The sides have been polished to show the color. Classic for the locality and species.

Capillitas, located in the Andalgala Department of Catamarca Province, Argentina, is a historic mining district situated within the rugged peaks of the Aconquija mountain range, with mining activity dating back to pre-Columbian times and expanding significantly during the nineteenth century. Geologically, the district is hosted within a Miocene volcanic-subvolcanic caldera complex, where hydrothermal activity driven by magmatic fluids filled extensive fracture systems and fault zones with complex polymetallic veins. The area is exceptionally famous worldwide for hosting rich copper, lead, zinc, and manganese mineral assemblages, and it is particularly renowned for producing magnificent specimens of rhodochrosite, often referred to as Inca Rose, which features stunning banded pink and red patterns formed by low-temperature hydrothermal deposition.

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