This is a superb, lustrous, cherry-red rhodochrosite from the 1979-1982 finds in South Africa. Nothing like this, most collectors would agree, has ever been found in the mineral world since, with the possible exception of Sweet Home Mine rhodochrosites. Still, even those were hoped for. These were entirely unexpected, and when found also poorly collected so fewer specimens survived than you would have thought. Most of them have small tip dings, as a result of the times and the methods of collecting, this no exception. This piece has superb luster and a rich cherry-red color. The 3-cm radial spray on one end gives it a nice 3-dimensionality, too. Ex. David Michaels Collection, brother of sportscaster Al, who assembled a fine collection of competition-level miniatures in the mid-1990s.