FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Roger Warin]

Hi,
In the Rostenne collection, we find a beautiful rhodochrosite.
The photo was taken in 2003. I forgot its origin.
I hesitate between Sweet Home Mine and Peru (Áncash).
A pyrolusite is grafted on it.
The small white crystals appear to be quartz but the morphology is strange.
Thanks.

[Carles Millan]

I would say it's from Huayllapon Mine, Pasto Bueno, Ancash, Peru.

[Roger Warin]

Thanks a lot

[Volkmar Stingl]

Are you sure, that the clear white crystals are quartz? For me they seem to be fluorite with cubic morphology.

Volkmar

[James Catmur]

I agree

[Roger Warin]

I had privileged from the start the examination of the photo the Peruvian origin of this rhodochrosite, a rich locality rich in quartz.
I had of course seen the morphology of this secondary crystallization.
But I didn't dare say fluorite.
Here is an enlargement of this "fluorite".
Thank you for your help.

[Tobi]

[Roger Warin]

Hi Toby,
This beautiful rhodochrosite is currently in the National Museum of Natural History in Luxembourg (in the very pleasant Latin Quarter of Grund to visit), since 2005-2006. Fortunately, I had a photo in 2003.
The question should be put to Dr. Simon Philippo who is the curator of the collection.
Personally, I have considered that pyrolusite is often found on top of rhodochrosite. His kidney habit confirmed this secondary attribution to me.
My close friend André Rostenne never asked himself this question, captivated by the main crystal. I accompanied him when he bought this specimen during the Mineralientage Muenchen.