Vista Rhodonite from Vancouver Island. No, this is not Hill 60 material but it is from the same geological zone. The site is on a mountain top with a great view (vista) – and the rock provides views as a “scenic stone”. I have only spent about 15 minutes on this claim so far (I found it late in the day and fire season has shut down access) but it appears to have really good potential for material and volume (the bed I collected has rhodonite potentially to about 25 cm or a foot thick and there may be more beds of it). This specimen shows a nice “scene” or vista of a mountain in the background (darker material) with clouds rolling over it and trees (black manganese dendrites) in the foreground. It is about 9 inches across. There is also a decent red jasper on site and potential for jasper into the green color range.
I have only cut three pieces of the rhodonite from this site. This one, about 8 inches across, reminds me of the scene from the Charlie Brown Halloween episode where Snoopy is walking across the fields in France after having been shot down by the Red Baron. Some of the color range of jasper at this site. The red is really rich but both pieces have fractures and porosity. These are surface-collected pieces blasted by logging road construction, so at depth the material may be much better. Each piece about 6 to 7 inches long.Just found this in September! Looks like yellow-orange rhodonite. It could be bustamite. The material does retain its color with depth (cutting and polishing) but so far there are many black manganese lines. There is more material on site.Close up of partially polished specimen showing retention of color with depth.A transitional piece showing green chert and the start of rhodonite formation.
