Capillitas Mining District - Argentina
The Capillitas Mine - Renowned for Rhodochrosite
The Capillitas mine is home to some of the world's largest rhodochrosite stalactites.
Located in the Capillitas mining district, Catamarca Province, Argentina, it's situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet. For this reason, access has never been easy.
The famous banded rhodochrosite from the Capillitas mine was first described in 1873. It was later given the tradename Inca Rose.
Capillitas is a hydrothermal deposit, meaning the rhodochrosite formed from hot, mineral-rich fluids circulating through volcanic host rocks, allowing the mineral to grow in layered, stalactitic forms.
The rhodochrosite in our photo is from the collection of The Arkenstone. It's four original stalactites that gradually merged into one. The image is clickable and redirects to the original photo.
