Rhodochrosite Tetrahedrite, Sweet Home Mine

The beautiful reds in the rhodochrosite are stunning!  Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral. Tetrahedrite is a complex metallic copper and antimony sulfosalt mineral.  Other minerals include chalcopyrite and quartz.   This was purchased from the mine owner a few years ago.

The specimen can from The 19-01 Pocket, Detroit City Portal, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park County, Colorado.   The Detroit Portal was closed in 2024.  This was purchased from the mine owner a few years ago.

The Sweet Water Mine was originally opened in 1873 as a silver mine but was a poor producer.  They kept running into a red mineral that they tossed aside.  The mine sits at an elevation of over 11,000 feet above sea level.  The mine was abandoned in the 1960s, only to be opened decades later for the gorgeous red gem, Rhodochrosite.  Parts of the mine produced the largest pristine crystals ever found.  It is the Colorado State Mineral.

This is a special piece and requires some care - keep out of the sunlight, do not use acid cleaners, be gentle, rhodochrosite is a softer mineral.

It weighs 1.49 pounds, it measures about 3.25 in by 2.75 in and 3 inches tall.