Rhodonite & Galena from Broken Hill NSW
Specimen Details
A great miniature example of a Broken Hill NSW Rhodonite crystal in association with many smaller crystals in shiny Silver bearing Galena. These are found in the sulphide zone of the Broken Hill silver-lead mines.
It is found as either a crystal with the characteristic rounded edges of Rhodonite, or as isolated fragments disseminated through the ore; it generally shows evidence of corrosion by the metalliferous solutions, and various stages of replacement by Galena and Blende may be traced.
Due to the Galena having a hardness of 2.5-3, this specimen has to be held with care as the Galena could easily shatter. This specimen has a nicely terminated crystal on the underside which is not seen in the above 360° crystal photo. More photos will be added soon.
I acquired this specimen from Peter Beckwith at Crystal Habit (now Kristallen) at the September 2016 Central Coast Crystal Festival.
Rhodonite Info
Chemical Formula: MnSiO3
Collection ID #: JG0039
Colour: Deep red translucent crystals
Hardness: 5.5 – 6
Acquisition Date: 4th September 2016
Crystal System: Triclinic
Lustre: Vitreous
Dimensions: 46mm x 25mm x 26mm
Weight: 41g
Location: Broken Hill, NSW Australia
Rarity of Mineral