Rosell Minerales

Very interesting specimen of elbaite that has been partially transformed into lepidolite. A Brazilian curiosity. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 5 x 2.9 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Group of elbaite crystals, green color, brilliant and very transparent. Embeded in a quartz matrix with muscovite. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 5.7 x 4.8 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 3.4 cm.
Found in ± 1973.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Stalactitic aggregate, pineapple shape, of amethyst quartz crystals. Brilliant and with a more intense "amethyst" color at the tips of the crystals. An aesthetic piece, common, but aesthetic... It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 5.5 x 5.4 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.7 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

In this specimen we can observe brilliant aggregates of brown transparent römerite crystals, a very rare iron sulphate. They are accompanied by coquimbite showing an intense violet color under fluorescent light or LED type. They're accompanied by yellow metavoltine/copiapite crystals, along with minor fibrous halotrichite. Note that under the magnifying glass we can navigate in a world of brilliant crystals, some of which of krausite species (yellowish to grey transparent). We left this identification pleasure to the collector. Regarding its environmental stability, this sample has been stored during more than eight years without further alteration.

Size: 7.2 x 6 x 5.5 cm.
Found in 03/2010.

In this specimen we can observe brilliant aggregates of brown transparent römerite crystals, a very rare iron sulphate. They are accompanied by coquimbite showing an intense violet color under fluorescent light or LED type. They're accompanied by yellow metavoltine/copiapite crystals, along with minor fibrous halotrichite. Note that under the magnifying glass we can navigate in a world of brilliant crystals, some of which of krausite species (yellowish to grey transparent). We left this identification pleasure to the collector. Regarding its environmental stability, this sample has been stored during more than eight years without further alteration.

Size: 6.1 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm.
Found in 03/2010.

A good size hyaline quartz crystal that shows an interior "ghost" that follows the geometry of the main one. Greenish in tone, probably due to a member of the mica group, fuchsite. These specimens are rare to see today.

Size: 5.7 x 2.2 x 1.6 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

Size: 2.1 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

Size: 1.4 x 1 x 0.7 cm.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

Group of rutile crystals with a highly visible cyclic twin. A brilliant piece with years... From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 2.7 x 2.3 x 1.9 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Epidote crystal, dark olive green in colour, very bright, with defined terminations, striking lighter green reflections and many flashes of greenish-yellow internal fire. Excellent specimen of Peruvian epidote.

Size: 3.7 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm.
Found in 2019.

Good size epidote crystal, dark olive green in colour, very bright, with defined terminations, striking lighter green reflections and many flashes of greenish-yellow internal fire. Excellent specimen of Peruvian epidote.

Size: 4.8 x 2.8 x 2.6 cm.
Found in 2019.

Group of very elongated quartz crystals, with developed prisms and well-defined rhombohedral terminal faces. Very transparent. Some faces of the prism show growth oriented cavities.

Size: 6.9 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6.9 x 1 cm.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

On a rich group of rosettes of rhodochrosite, with a pinkish tone and a silky luster, there are various crystals of tetrahedrite, defined, brilliant and contrasting on the matrix.

Size: 6.7 x 5 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm. Td
Found in ca. 1985.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

These alluvial peble specimens of bahianite are a remarkable rarity due to the composition. It is the only known pure aluminum antimonate. Structurally related to simpsonite (Ta instead of Sb). It is normally found as rolled pellets in the Pico das Almas river, in Brazil. It comes from this type locality for the species.

Size: 8 x 6 x 5 mm.

Type Locality

Sky blue ammeneite occurring as minute crystals on and in halite with green atacamite. From the type locality. This is a fairly rare copper halide and is the first mineral known to contain ammonia radical cation (·NH3) groups.

Size: 3.4 x 2.7 x 2.6 cm.

Molybdenite specimens from Inca del Oro are very difficult to find in the market and more with defined crystals. This sample shows a very well defined, bright and well-disposed hexagonal crystal of molybdenite on the matrix. A unique opportunity to include to your collection a very representative and fine specimen for the species. It belongs from the former J. Astor collection (Barcelona). The locality of Inca del Oro is located between the Chilean provinces of Copiapó and Chañaral.

Size: 7.3 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Groups of aggregates of rhodochrosite crystals, of a delicate pink color, brilliant. They are accompanied by colorless aggregates of small quartz crystals. Very aesthetic.

Size: 5.6 x 4.1 x 2.2 cm.
Found in ca. 1988.

Col. Antonio Trigo (Mataró).

Elongated single crystal of orange-pink childrenite without matrix. Transparent to translucent, with brilliance and defined terminal faces and altered prism.Very unusual for the species. From the former A. Trigo collection (Mataró).

Size: 2.5 x 1.1 x 0.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1985.

Col. Antonio Trigo (Mataró).

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.