Rosell Minerales

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue, green and yellow. A delicatessen from Brazil, referenced in Joan Astor's published work in issuu, that we recommend you visit and browse.

Size: 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1976.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. Lapidis.

Prismatic elbaite crystal, of an intense color, with the defined pinacoidal face truncating the prism. The label indicates that it comes from South Africa, but we are not aware that specimens like this have been found in this part of the world. A miniature gemmy piece.

Size: 1.2 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1973.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

A very interesting specimen of topaz, in which we can see striated faces on the prism, truncated by pinacoids, very unusual. Transparence, brilliance and with the handwritten label from the Astor collection indicating "negative" faces. This piece was adquired to the well-know Catalan dealer Jordi Figueras, one of the suppliers of the Folch collection.

Size: 4.5 x 3.4 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1978.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. J. Figueras.

Group of elbaite crystals, in parallel growth, with striated prismatic faces, deep green color and good luster. From the former Manchion collection, with the characteristic label.

Size: 5.4 x 2.6 x 2.4 cm.
Found in 1989.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona) #483.

Excellent specimen of a quartz crystal with inclusions. In this specimen we can see green and reddish inclusions, most likely due to growths of chlorite and iron oxides in the growing crystal. A very interesting and aesthetic piece. From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 5.8 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1975.

Col. Joan Astor.

Excellent specimen of a quartz crystal with geometric inclusions. In this specimen we can see green and reddish zonations, most likely due to growths of chlorite and iron oxides on the facets of the growing crystal. A very interesting and aesthetic piece. From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 6.5 x 4 x 3 cm.
Found in ca. 1975.

Col. Joan Astor.

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 6.5 x 3.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

An old specimen of this Peruvian mine that shows a large group of cubic galena crystals, interpenetrated, with its characteristic gray tone. They have stepped growths on the faces and some natural cavities, which give them a differentiated appearance.

Size: 11 x 9 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 2.0 cm.
Found in 11/1985.

#185 Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

Group of chalcopyrite crystals, one of good size, with defined shapes arranged on quartz hyaline crystals. An aesthetic miniature.

Size: 5.2 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.6 cm.
Found in ±1987.

#360 Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

A good size beryl crystal, aquamarine variety, from those of oldtimes. It shows the faces of the hexagonal prism and terminal flat pinacoid. From the Manchion collection (Barcelona).

Size: 8.8 x 4.4 x 3.4 cm.
Found in 1988.

#279 Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

Very aesthetic specimen formed by numerous bournonite crystals, excellent luster, sharps and cyclically twinned. They are accompanied by cube octahedral galena crystals with rounded faces and edges and brilliant pyrite. Nice miniature.

Size: 4.5 x 3.6 x 2.4 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.
Found in 2019.

In a matrix formed by octahedral pyrite crystals, very bright and faceted, various groups of sphalerite crystals are disposed on which the bournonite cyclic twins stand out. They are accompanied by small quartz crystals and hydrozincite globules. A very aesthetic piece.

Size: 5.2 x 3.8 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in 2019.

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with fluorite, quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 2.6 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 cm.

A classic old-time specimen of hydroxylherderite, well crystallized, with sharp translucent idiomorphic monoclinic crystals. Lustrous and with a greenish-yellow tone. Associated with albite and muscovite from the Golconda pegmatite in Brazil. From Manchion Collection, purchased to Dr. Joan Viñals. Previously misidentified as herderite.

Size: 5.5 x 4.2 x 2.7 cm.
Found in ±1987.

Col. Manchion #364, J. Viñals 04/1987,

Good sized rounded, globular crystals of lilac-pink lepidolite. This formation is also known as ball-peen lepidolite after the resemblance to the round end of a ball-peen hammer. Lepidolite is a Li-rich member of the series between polylithionite and trilithionite. A very aesthetic specimen from Manchion Collection.

Size: 9.4 x 9.2 x 8.2 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. Manchion #610.

A classic old-time specimen of hydroxylherderite, well crystallized, with sharp translucent idiomorphic monoclinic crystals. Lustrous and with a greenish-yellow tone. Associated with albite and muscovite from the Golconda pegmatite in Brazil. From Manchion Col., purchased in 1987 to Dr. Joan Viñals. Previously misidentified as herderite. Previamente mal identificada como herderita.

Size: 6.5 x 4.3 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm
Found in 1987.

Col. Manchion #354, J. Viñals 04/1987,

Group of rhodochrosite crystals that stand out for their color, with well-defined scalenohedron shapes and good transparence. Accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a matrix with manganese oxides, hyaline quartz crystals and some colorless fluorite.

Size: 5.0 x 3.3 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.

Group of Rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined scalenohedron shapes and good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with hyaline quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 5.7 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.

We have labeled this specimen as fluorite, because it highlights a group of crystals of this species, transparent to translucent, with complex facets of the dodecahedron, with faces with polysynthetic growths. They are disposed in a vug of bright rhodo crystals and intense pink. A second generation of rhodo forms globules of honey tone. A very curious and aesthetic Mina Uchucchacuapiece.

Size: 5.6 x 4.3 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 3.5 mm.

Excellent specimen formed by a polysynthetic growth of hematite crystals, with an exceptional brightness. Rich in faces, defined edges and a good size for the species and the locality.
Rob Lavinsky said: "Splendent, complex hematite crystals form a striking specimen from this less well-known Brazilian locale. The majestic, large crystal, with numerous amazing faces is 3.5 cm and is nearly pristine. This fine piece is complete-all-around. Choice and uncommon material from the Larry Krause dealer stock". [go to mindat]

Size: 5.2 x 4.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3.7 x 3.5 cm.

A huge size group of interpenetrated crystals of hexagonal shape, with a dark gray metallic color and brilliant luster. Crystals of this specimen remind wurtzite for its complex hexagonal shape and dipyramids observed. Many similar samples from this mine has been classified as wurtzite. For this reason we heve proceeded to analyze them. The results indicate that this is a really amazing and interesting pseudomorphosis of sphalerite after wurtzite. A great opportunity for psedomorph and Bolivian mineral collectors.
Studies were carried on by X-ray diffraction of the matrix and hexagonal crystals. They have shown that it is sphalerite. Also, the Raman spectra shows that in the innermost areas of the crystals wurtzite presence has been detected, the rest is sphalerite. SEM-EDS yield a composition:  (Zn1.05,Fe0.09)Σ=1.14S1.00.
Specimens of well developed wurtzite are unusual. This hexagonal zinc sulphide, with some iron, presents dimorphism with sphalerite. It is known that wurtzite is stable at high temperatures, low temperatures being the most stable phase sphalerite. This Bolivian mine is the type locality for the wurtzite. We will send the analysis reports to the specimen buyer.

Size: 5.7 x 4.2 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 15 mm.

Analyzed specimen with report

Usually these imperial topaz appear without matrix. In this specimen we can enjoy a prismatic crystal, doubly terminated by the pinacoids, with brilliance, transparence and intense color. With small ding in lateral face. It is gemmy from top to bottom.

Size: 5.7 x 4.8 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 16 x 15 mm.

Specimen of a little-known locality. These sample shows aggregates of silver crystals, with an intense luster and tones between white and golden. They are disposed on a matrix with quartz and iron oxides with which they contrast.

Size: 6.4 x 4.8 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.
Found in 08/2011