Rhodochrosite

San José de Berenguela Mine (Elisa Mine; Hucurani Mine), Berenguela mining district, José Manuel Pando Province, La Paz, Bolivia

Several rounded aggregates of pink Rhodochrosite cover most of this small specimen. Each ball is coated with tiny crystals that catch the light and give the surface a fine sparkle. The color is a soft pink overall and deepens to a stronger, almost raspberry tone toward the tips of some of the balls. The matrix below is Pyrite, and on the back tiny Quartz points rise from it. Most collectors know botryoidal Rhodochrosite from the stalactites of Argentina; from Bolivia this habit is rarely offered. For its size, the piece is richly covered with Rhodochrosite. Photo: Matthew Parshchikov