By Genevieve S.The Inca Rose is the national stone of Argentina and is a rare and beautiful pink quartz-like stone with wavy bands of veins. Mined in Catamarca Province in Argentina at the Northwest edge of the Andes Mountains, the Inca Rose is found in stalactites which are long icicle-like formations formed by dripping from the ceiling of the cave. The Inca Rose was discovered by the Incas in the 13th Century and mined along with silver. Incas are a native South American people that once ruled one of the largest and richest empires in the Americas. Their empire covered much of present-day Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and parts of Columbia and Argentina. The Incas believe the Inca Rose was the blood of former kings and queens turned to stone. In the 1930s, the mine was rediscovered and an Incan tomb was unearthed. Mummies in the tomb wore amulets or funeral jewelry made of Inca Rose.
1 comment:
What a great picture! Is this of the penguin or did you get it off the internet? I feel like I'm looking at a stalactite! Genevieve, you did a great job teaching us about the Inca Rose.
Beth
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