Rodocrosita
Rodocrosita is a mineral with formula MnCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Uchucchacua, Distrito de Oyón, Lima, Perú and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Rosé-pink rhodochrosite crystals, well defined, several showing stepped rhombohedral growth, accompanied by transparent cubic fluorite crystals and rhombohedral calcite, all on a very compact, hard matrix. Some crystals show partial fractures due to manual extraction to avoid the use of an angle grinder—the matrix is extremely hard.
History of this specimen
To avoid using a grinder, this Peruvian couple extracted the piece by hand with a pick, despite the extreme hardness of the matrix. It marked a turning point in my collection. I first saw it at the La Unión Show and did not buy it; that decision led me afterwards to a series of minor acquisitions, correct but soulless. When I got it later in Salamanca, the contrast was evident and it reaffirmed a clear personal rule: if a piece calls me from the first moment, it is the one that should stay. No more substitutions.
About Rodocrosita
Rhodochrosite belongs to the carbonate group and is valued for its intense pink crystals. At Uchucchacua, the joint presence of transparent fluorite constitutes an exceptionally rare association. Such mineralogical contrast markedly increases both the aesthetic and scientific interest of a specimen.
About the locality
One of Peru’s major polymetallic deposits, noted for silver-rich assemblages with oxides and carbonates. Botryoidal cavities are relatively common, but they do not always host rhodochrosite so well-defined, nor associations as clean and well-contrasted, as in this specimen.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0032
- Composition
- MnCO₃
- Name
- Rodocrosita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Associations
- fluorita calcita
- Mine
- Mina Uchucchacua
- District / Municipality
- Distrito de Oyón
- Province
- Lima
- Country
- Perú
- Size (cm)
- 12 x 8 x 6.5
- Weight
- 607.3 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Eduardo Ruiz Contreras (Geoterraminerales)
- Etymology
- From the Greek "rhodon" (ῥόδον), "rose", and "chros" (χρῶς), "colour", in direct reference to the mineral’s characteristic pink hue.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Andersonita — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul (Toralina)) — España
- Aragonito — Italia
- Aragonito — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul) — Italia