Rhodochrosite

specimen number:
2062640

location:
Emma Mine, Butte, Montana, USA

description:
Light pink lustrous rhombohedral crystals of rhodochrosite averaging 0.5 cm in size covering aesthetically the front of matrix. In excellent condition, a choice and attractive example of this Montana classic. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Emma Mine in Butte, Montana, originally developed for silver under names like the Ancient Mine during the late nineteenth century, later evolved into the region's largest and most significant producer of manganese, zinc, and lead through its peak operations in the mid-twentieth century. Geologically, the mine is situated within the world-class Butte hydrothermal system hosted by the Late Cretaceous Butte Quartz Monzonite of the Boulder Batholith. While the central core of the Butte district is famous for copper, the Emma lies in a cooler, peripheral zone where hydrothermal fluids deposited complex polymetallic veins rich in manganese carbonates, sulfides, and silicates.

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