A beautiful and difficult to obtain example of rhodochrosite from Japan. The Oppu mine has been worked intermittently since the 1600's as a source for silver, copper, and eventually lapidary rhodochrosite during a brief period in the 1980's. This piece differs from the standard botryoidal plates that once usually sees-- it is a cluster of quartz crystals covered with a layer of rhodochrosite.
There are some scuffs, but altogether it is a sizable and impressive example of this hard to find form of rhodochrosite. Quite good for the price, as well.