Rosell Minerales

Group of hyaline quartz crystals, one of them predominant, with excellent transparence, brilliance and sharpness. They come from this Aragonese locality known for its aesthetic quartz specimens, difficult to see with quality today. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 4.2 x 4 x 3.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.8 cm.
Found in ± 1973.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Very brilliant pyrohedron cluster, of good size and with well defined faces and edges. With some hematite brilliant lamellar crystals. From this classic Italian locality. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 5.4 x 4.4 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 2.2 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Very brilliant pyrohedron cluster, of good size and with well defined faces and edges. From this classic Italian locality. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 4 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ± 1974.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

On a microcline-orthoclase-quartz matrix, several laminar aggregates of autunite are disposed, yellow color, transparent to translucent and brilliant. They present, as usual, intense fluorescence under UV light. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.7 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ± 1974.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Presents radioactive activity.

Very aesthetic specimen from this classic Italian mine. Several magnetite crystals with dodecahedron forms, some of them very interestingly distorted crystalography, with intense luster and very well defined. It is accompanied by octahedral pyrite crystals. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.8 x 7.3 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1.3 cm.
Found in ± 1978.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

The label of this sample indicates that it is a specimen from Reocín. The matrix is a dolomite, different from the usual matrix of Udías hydrozincite specimens, which is usually limonite. In addition, the piece was acquired from Enric Kucera, who is usually quite precise in the labeling. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.2 x 5 x 4 cm.
Found in ± 1974.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Andradite var. melanite (Ti-rich) from this well-known skarn deposit. Sharp, lustrous, black and brown dodecahedrons. From the former Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7 x 5.5 x 3.8 cm.
Found in ± 1973.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

A brilliant specimen of epidote, brilliant, transparent, richly faceted crystals with a very aesthetic olive green color. With some diopside crystals. The beauty of these specimens is incomparable for the species. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.3 x 4.7 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm.
Found in ± 1978.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

An interesting specimen of turquoise (variety rashleighite) from the Cornwall mines. Formerly, rashleighite was an approved species, now it is defined as a turquoise with a certain iron content, intermediate between chalcosiderite and turquoise. This sample shows a sky blue crust aggregates, with cavities with crystals and a quartz matrix. A Cornish classic from the collection of Joan Astor (Barcelona) and, previously, from Martín Oliete (Madrid), a well-known systematic collector.

Size: 4.7 x 4.1 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ± 1984.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona). Col. Martín Oliete (Madrid).
Classic locality

Sulphur specimens from Conil (Cádiz, Andalucía) are highly valued among mineral collectors on the Iberian Peninsula. In this specimen we can see various sulfur aggregates, one of them in the form of a dipyramidal crystal. They are disposed in cavities lined with calcite. The banding of the matrix is perfectly observed. A classic locality for fine crystallized sulfur specimens since 18th century. Probably the area has been worked since Roman times. Very difficult to see in the market. Interesting video of sulphur mines from Conil [video].

Size: 8.8 x 4.8 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ± 1991.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

These tspecimens from Les Malines are very rare today. Twinned aggregates of bournonite crystals, partially covered by cube octahedral galena, pyrite and sphalerite. They are disposed on a matrix of baryte crystals. These are classics of the largest deposit of lead and zinc in France, whose exploitation dates back to Roman times.

Size: 5.6 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm. aggr.
Found in ± 1974.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

A very hard to find enstatite specimen from the Ødegården apatite mines. Prismatic crystal of dark greenish-brown, partially transformed to talc. Accompanied by muscovite. During the 2nd World War, the mines were worked from 1941-1945 under the leadership of Adam Petterson. The mines are now closed and most of the dumps are overgrown by forest. Some of the dumps have been used as masses in construction and reparations of roads in the district.

Size: 5 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Pyrolusite specimens from Sagides (Soria) are rare on the market. In this specimen we can see bright aggregates of fine prismatic pyrolusite crystals. They are partially covering a goethite matrix.

Size: 5.5 x 4 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Group of sharp tabular axinite-(Fe) crystals from this classic French locality. Brilliant, transparent to translucent. The piece belongs from the Joan Astor collection and dates from the late 70s.

Size: 5.7 x 5.2 x 2.2 cm.
Found in ± 1977.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Andalusite specimen from Cap de Creus (Cape), with pink tones and quite crystalline. The Cap de Creus Natural Park was the first maritime-terrestrial park in Catalonia. It was created in 1998 and protects a large part of the Cap de Creus peninsula. Currently totally prohibited to collect minerals in this area.

Size: 6 x 3.4 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ± 1976.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Another well-known locality for celestite specimens in La Segarra (Lleida) is the Tossal Gros quarry (Can Fontanella or Roca quarry). Oligocene lacustrine marls, marly limestones and limestones containing geodes with diagenetic celestite. The grayish matrix is very characteristic. The prismatic, acute crystals, between transparent to translucent, are disposed in the cavities of the marl rock. They are accompanied by calcite crystals. A classic of Catalan mineralogy.

Size: 12 x 9.6 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

Another well-known locality for celestite specimens in La Segarra (Lleida) is the Tossal Gros quarry (Can Fontanella or Roca quarry). Oligocene lacustrine marls, marly limestones and limestones containing geodes with diagenetic celestite. The grayish matrix is very characteristic. The prismatic, acute crystals, between transparent to translucent, are disposed in the cavities of the marl rock. They are accompanied by calcite crystals. A classic of Catalan mineralogy.

Size: 12 x 9.3 x 5.2 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

Rich group of celestite crystals, bright, with transparence and a characteristic bluish tone. They are disposed on a marl matrix upholstered with calcite crystals. This specimen belongs to the first outcrop of the Costa de l'Aguda, in Torà (Lleida).

Size: 12 x 9.2 x 5.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

A good size nodule of celestite from this classic Catalan locality. Well defined prismatic crystals, some brilliant, some of them partially replaced by calcite, also observing calcite perimorphosis, hollow prismatic crystals, some of them with corroded celestite remaining. This specimen is interesting for this substitution. The vug is covered with calcite crystals. This specimen belongs to the first outcrop of the Costa de l'Aguda, close to the town of Torà, Lleida.

Size: 13.5 x 9.6 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.1 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

Very "brilliant" specimen in the shape of a druse, with a pegmatitic matrix, accompanied by yellow fluorite crystals and upholstered with really brilliant quartz crystals, with an amethyst tone. These specimens were a rarity then and today.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700m). The works are between about 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. The municipal term corresponds to Viladrau. Mining in this type of deposits in this area and surrounding areas has focused on the extraction of minerals of Pb, Zn, F and Ba. Together with the Osor and Tagamanent deposits, the Rigròs vein of Sant Marçal mines is one of the most important in terms of the extraction of fluorite. Mines were operated until the mid-1990s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

Size: 8.2 x 7.7 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 9 mm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

Classic locality

Good sized specimen formed by a druse of cubic fluorite crystals with a yellow, slightly greenish, color. Translucent and with color zoning on some edges. They are partially covered by aggregates of quartz crystals with a soft amethyst tone. These specimens were a classic of this mine, but many years ago. These mines were operated until the mid-1990s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

Size: 11 x 7.4 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.9 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

Classic locality

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron. Intense color and good size. Partially corroded by fluids. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Fra Joan area is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Size: 8.6 x 6.7 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron. Intense color and good size. Partially corroded by fluids. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Fra Joan area is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Size: 7.5 x 7 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron, although we can observe some edges finely beveled by the trapezohedron. Intense color and luster. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, this specimen is mainly grossular. It is accompanied by small octahedral scheelite crystals of a white color, highly fluorescent under SW-UV light. The Roca del Turó mine is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, that mined a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Size: 7.2 x 3 cm.6.7 x
Main crystal: 1.1 cm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Fluorescent under short wave UV

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron, although we can observe some edges finely beveled by the trapezohedron. Intense color and luster. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Roca del Turó mine is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, that mined a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Size: 7.2 x 6.2 x 3.7 cm.
Main crystal: 14 mm.
Found in ca. 1980's.

Classic locality