Aussie red

[mick B]

I was given this rough recently, was mined back in the 70s, both are fine grain, some from my region can be very crystalline making it challenging to polish, the red is true fine grain imperial, very dark red close to ruby color, very rare to find material like this now, may give me more motivation to keep carving.

[Allen]

Nice Rhodonite. 

It's a pity though that dirty thumb nail is not mine, looks the same!

At the top of one of the streets in Cairns there is an outcrop of it.
But what you have shown us yours is more favoured.
My detectives are out looking for the location now. 

[lithicbeads]

There was rhodonite of that quality from Vancouver Island Canada years ago but I have seen nothing to approach yours in decades.Wonderful to see.

[Isotelus]

The top one is very fine material to see these days indeed. The second slab is pretty darn fine in it's own right. I like the dendrite pattern in it.

Thanks for showing. One doesn't see this material in quality much any more.

[john likes rocks!]

Wow very nice to look at Mick thank for the pix!

I've got a small piece (red) once in a trade, in sunshine that rock does have a magic ruby glow mmmm mm!

 Maybe a 2 sided cab Mick?

 John

[mick B]

The fine grain red is very rare now, but it still does not bring the same price as high grade chrysoprase, not sure why as its heaps more rare than quality chrysoprase, not to many people have ever seen this material in the hand, average rhodonite is very common at Australian gem shows but I have NEVER seen this material for sale. One US jeweler was using this material but calling it nambulite, but it was imperial rhodonite, was selling for hundreds a gram.

[Helene]

Captivating topic.  What is rare and what is popular don't always jive with its true value.  I believe as customers understand the rarity of this rough it's true value will emerge.

Your carving is scruptuous.

[Redwilder]

There is rhondonite near Cairns? That is one of the areas that i will be visiting in a few months! Even if its not of the quality you have in hand here, I certainly would love to fossick my own while Im there   

[Margie B]

I cabbed some of the imperial rhodonite Michael posted, not the pure red choice material but it shows the color great.

[minkos61]

Very nice work.