Interesting scepter quartz crystals with several inclusions of "petroleum" and other hydrocarbons. The petroleum in these quartz crystals from Madagascar appear brownish yellow and, as with many other petroleum inclusions in quartz, they react to long and short wave UV light with yellow to blue fluorescence. Microscopic examination reveals numerous complex fluid inclusions containing obvious brownish yellow petroleum, gas bubbles presumed to be methane, dark solids of what is likely asphaltite, and a colorless immiscible liquid that could be probably water. Microscopic inclusions in quartz are of particular interest to the collector due to their spectacular UV reaction (gia.edu).

Size: 4.5 x 1.6 x 1.6 cm.
Found in ±2022.

Fluorescent under LW-UV and SW-UV lights

Very esthetic specimen formed by numerous aggregates of crystals of calcite manganoan, very bright, transparent to translucent, forming globular and stalactitic groups very well set on the matrix. They present a slightly pinkish tone due to the presence of Mn. Extremely fluorescent under LWUV, with a spectacular pink to red color. An exceptional piece.

Size: 12.5 x 10 x 5.4 cm.

Calcite is fluorescent under LW-UV.

Excellent specimen of bournonite from this classic Kosovar mine. Several crystals of this lead and copper sulfoantimonide are disposed on a matrix formed by brilliant crystals of pyrite, sphalerite and galena. The bournonite presents visible cyclic twins, semi-matt luster, with chalcopyrite. They appear covered with calcite that is removed by chemical processes.

Size: 9.7 x 6.5 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2 x 1.9 cm.

Carrollite is a copper cobalt sulfide, with the very finest of the species coming from the DR Congo. This excellent specimen is sharp, well-defined, and has a bright metallic luster. The single crystal is a modified cuboctahedron and accompanied by chalcopyrite crystals in calcite matrix. It has small nicks due to mechanical work to make the crystal appear that do not affect aesthetics. The condition and aesthetics both help make this such a choice display sample.

Size: 8.8 x 7.2 x 5.4 cm.
Main crystal: 2.4 x 2 cm.

Carrollite is a copper cobalt sulfide, with the very finest of the species coming from the DR Congo. This excellent specimen is sharp, well-defined, and has a bright metallic luster. The single crystal is a modified cuboctahedron and accompanied by chalcopyrite crystals in calcite matrix. The condition and aesthetics both help make this such a choice display sample.

Size: 5.7 x 5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 2 x 1.6 cm.

Bright silvery to bronze aggregate of allargentum (upper left corner) on matrix. Two sides of the matrix are covered with minute safflorite crystals. The allargentum has pseudocrystalline habit.
Shaft 371 is the main shaft of the former Aue Mining Company (formerly Object 09) of SDAG Wismut, a uranium mine in the Westerzgebirge. With a total depth of more than 1,800 m, the mine was the deepest mine in Germany until its closure (mindat). These type of specimens, although they are not "aesthetic", have an essential systematic and historical interest. For lovers of "gray minerals", like myself...

Size: 4.8 x 4.4 x 2.5 cm.

Classic locality

Very esthetic specimen of calcite formed by various flattened interpenetrated rhombohedral crystals, almost lenticular, with very well defined and striated faces. Between translucent to transparent, shiny and on a rocky matrix. It exhibits intense pink to red fluorescence under UV-LW light. Good size and quality.

Size: 13.1 x 9.56.8 cm.
Main crystal: 4.8 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

White elongated crystals of pearly luster in parallel growths implanted on groups of crystals of malachite with a silky luster and a very deep and uniform color. From a find ca. 2010 in Bou Beker where this association had not been found before.

Size: 9.7 x 8.2 x 5.4 cm.
Found in ±2010.

Calcite specimens from la Florida mines are known and valued worldwide. Noted for their complex twinned crystals on a prevalent rhombohedra forms, over scalenohedra. In this sample we offer, we have extraordinary crystals in which the predominance of twinned rhombohedrons is very clear and visible. Transparence is excellent, with defined striated faces and edges, undamaged and a visible twin. It has a delicate yellowish tone. It is cleanly implemented on a matrix of dolomite and calcite. A gem of Cantabria, always surprising the collectors for its aesthetics.

Size: 11 x 9.6 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 x 2.2 cm.

Classic locality

Excellent specimen of Asturian fluorite, from the classic Berbes area, formed by a dolomitic matrix with tabular book-shaped baryte crystals, partially coated with quartz and fluorite crystals. Fluorite crystals present very defined cubic shapes, with transparence, brilliance and a uniform purple to violet color. Very aesthetic specimen from thsi classic Spanish locality.

Size: 10.2 x 10 x 7 cm.
Main crystal: 16 x 12 mm.

Classic locality

Good-sized specimen covered with numerous cubic to prismatic fluorite crystals, transparent, brilliant and with aesthetic colour zoning. It has slightly beveled edges. A fine quality specimen from this classic Asturian locality, the specimens of which are highly appreciated by collectors.

Size: 9.8 x 7.2 x 6.3 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm.

Enstatite, variety bronzite. This specimen shows a group of intergrown crystals of bronzite, with the characteristic brassy-golden iridescence when viewed at varying angles. The effect is related to what we can see in labradorite, this specimen has a lively golden "labradorescence". A member of the orthopyroxene subgroup.

Size: 6 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm.

White to bluish globular aggregates of arsenocrandallite, accompanied by brown yukonite. These specimens were the first that Joan Viñals analyzed from this classic Murcian mine and that would lead to the discovery of the barahonaite (Al and Fe). With handwritten label.

Size: 7.2 x 5 x 4.1 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Rich group of small pyromorphite crystals, prismatic, hexagonal and truncated by pinacoidal faces. Good color and shine. Examples of this mine are not easy to come by today. The sample is accompanied by the handwritten label of Joan Viñals.

Size: 5.5 x 4.6 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1 mm.

Very good monazite-(Ce) crystal, floater, rich in faces, with luster and light brown color. It is accompanied by a cubic crystal of columbite-tantalite embeded in. These specimens have been analyzed, indicating that cerium is predominant, and that it is accompanied by other REEs such as lanthanum and neodymium, together with thorium, which gives it some radioactivity. We will send the results and label to the buyer.

Size: 4.1 x 2.9 x 1.2 cm.

Presents radioactive activity.

Excellent monazite-(Ce) crystal, totally floater, rich in faces, with luster and intense brown color. Nowadays finding specimens with this quality is not easy.
These specimens have been analyzed, indicating that cerium is predominant, and that it is accompanied by other REEs such as lanthanum and neodymium, together with thorium, which gives it some radioactivity. We will send the results and label to the buyer.

Size: 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.1 cm.

Presents radioactive activity.

Group of strontianite crystals disposed on the rocky matrix. Joan Viñals's label indicates Bédar bridge, which could be the zone of the mining train bridge. It is accompanied by the handwritten label.

Size: 5.8 x 4.1 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.

Groups of very well defined chalcocite crystals, with hexagonal pyramidal shapes, with striated faces perpendicular to the main axis and forming aggregates. Metallic gray luster with bluish iridescences. They are disposed on a matrix with brilliant quartz microcrystals. A classic from Kazakhstan, each day scarcer.

Size: 7.5 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm.

Col. J. Viñals.

Yellowish-green aggregates of beaverite-(Cu), accompanied by globular groups of green osarizawaite crystals. From this classic Spanish mine.

Size: 5.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.

This is a really good crystal cluster of bismuthinite from the Mina Tazna in Bolivia. It is formed by large, terminated, prismatic crystals of bismuthinite, divergent, gray metallic. Some crystals show a metallic patina from a thin coating of marcasite/pyrite. On the back side some quartz crystals and gray-white uncovered metallic natural bismuthinite crystals. The Tazna Mine is a historic bismuth-tungsten mine in the high Andes of Bolivia that has produced noteworthy specimens for decades. Samples with this quality are very rare seen on the market. Specially for connoisseur "gray" mineral collectors...

Size: 5.8 x 4 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 19 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.
Classic locality

This specimen from the Broken Hill mine has an incredibly rich coating of the lead oxyde mineral: minium. Both sides are coated with this intense, reddish-orange lead oxide. Minium is pseudomorph after cerussite crystals. Highly representative of the species and the locality. With the handwritten label from Ausrox.

Size: 4.5 x 4.4 x 2 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

These fluorite specimens from the classic Valzergues Fluorite mine, in France, are highly prized among collectors. This specimen shows a group of cubic crystals with a beautiful golden hue inside and a violet "phantom" zoned line following the edges. The front of the specimen is undamaged, the back shows contact with the vein wall from which it was removed, as is the case with all specimens from this mine. It fluoresces under ultraviolet (LW) light.

Size: 5.6 x 4.7 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 22 x 22 mm.
Found in ±1996.

Classic locality

Group of baryte crystals, between translucent and transparent, colorless and of good size, one of them standing out. They show faces of the orthorhombic prisms and the pinacoid. The largest one shows beveled edges, with an part contacted by a disapeared matrix. It is accompanied by powdery hematite. It is a sample with many years.

Size: 5.7 x 5 x 4.4 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 7 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

 

Size: 7.3 x 4.7 x 2.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.5 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

 

 

Size: 7.8 x 6.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV