Rhodochrosite on Quartz

specimen number:
2062948

location:
Wutong Mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co., Wuzhou, Guangxi, China

description:
Non-lustrous pink bladed crystals of rhodochrosite to 0.8 cm in size attractive and rich over the top of a crystalline quartz matrix. In excellent condition. From the early finds at this locality in the early 2000's. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

The Wutong Mine in Guangxi, China, originally opened in 1958 as a polymetallic underground operation primarily focused on extracting lead, zinc, and silver. Geologically, the deposit features hydrothermal vein systems where mineral-rich fluids circulated through country rock, depositing complex sulfide assemblages alongside vugs containing world-class crystal specimens. While it operated for decades as a standard commercial metal mine, it gained international renown among mineral collectors following a remarkable 2010 discovery of exceptional, highly vibrant pink to cherry-red rhodochrosite crystals associated with fluorite and pyrite. This major find produced historic museum-grade masterpieces, such as the famous Emperor of China specimen, before the mine ultimately closed in 2011.

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