Rosell Minerales

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 4.5 x 3.1 x 2.5 cm.
Found in 1998.

Classic locality

The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 6.7 x 3.6 x 3.4 cm.
Found in ±2000.

Classic locality

Excellent, pure aesthetics. It is a group of arfvedsonite crystals of intense black color, shiny, with defined and shiny faces, arranged on a matrix of feldspar, orthoclase. From the Nicolau collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label by Joan Viñals.

Size: 5.7 x 3.7 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1.7 x 1.5 cm.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Group of kyanite crystals, of gem quality, with transparency and when light passes through them they offer an exceptional color. They are accompanied on the matrix by brown staurolite crystals and paragonite (Na mica). They stand out on a clear schistose matrix. A quality European piece that is difficult to see today. Classic and aesthetic material from this famous Swiss locality from the E. Nicolau collection (Barcelona).

Size: 8 x 6 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 50 x 0.8 mm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Globular aggregate of variscite crystals, apple green in color and with transparency and shine, aesthetically arranged in a cavity of the matrix. Uncommon and of good quality for a find from years ago.

Size: 6.6 x 5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm. glob.
Found in ±1997.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Druse of small white crystals of tacharanite (basalt-hosted zeolite) forming aggregates with approximately globular shape, coating a basalt rocky matrix. Really interesting sample and locality.

Size: 7.8 x 6.6 x 6.4 cm.
Found in ±1997.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Large group of bournonite crystals, brilliant, with complex and interpenetrated faces. They are accompanied by honey tone sphalerite crystals. The specimen is accompanied by a label that identifies it as from Saint-Laurent-Le-Minier (Sent Laurenç del Minièr), although it is more likely that it is from the Saguinede mine in Montdardier, very close to Saint-Laurent.

Size: 102 x 7 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Druse of prismatic acicular pyromorphite crystals, transparent, shiny and with the characteristic green color. They are arranged on a quartz matrix. A very aesthetic piece from the Nicolau collection (Barcelona) and with a Joan Viñals label.

Size: 6.8 x 6.8 x 4.4 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).
Classic locality

This specimen, from the Mauldin Mountain quarries, shows an attractive coating of bright-green, botryoidal wavellite on fractured dark gray chert. The wavellite is microcrystalline, making the sparkle in the picture. Very characteristic green colour and good size specimen.

Size: 10.8 x 8.3 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Group of childrenite crystals, well defined, transparent to translucent, accompanied by aggregates of polythionite (mica group). They are disposed on a matrix with feldspar and quartz.

Size: 6.5 x 4.8 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

In this specimen, obtained in the Manzanera cemetery area, we can observe numerous calcite crystals with quartz, some hematite crystal and, hidden, a yellowish fluorapatite crystal, well defined and transparent. Unique specimen from a very little-known locality.

Size: 4.3 x 3.6 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3.2 mm.
Found in 2000.

The specimens of hematite from the Sandra quarry, where dolerites (ophites) are exploited, are known by local collectors, but those extracted in the Manzanera cemetery area have not been as abundant and of high quality. This specimen comes from the Marí-García collection (Castelló) and was collected in 2000. The hematite crystals form isolated "leaves" that are very shiny and iridescent, unlike the quarry. Very aesthetic and unique specimen.

Size: 5 x 4.8 x 4.4 cm.
Main crystal: 2.4 mm.
Found in 2000.

White globular aggregates of thomsonite-Ca, on the basaltic matrix. Excol. M. Marín de Castelló. A classic specimen of Spanish mineralogy.

Size: 5.4 x 4.5 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 3.5 mm.
Found in ±2000.

Groups of intensely colored clinoclase crystals that stand out on the quartz matrix.

Size: 7.2 x 4.7 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ±2000.

Classic locality

Very rich druse of pseudomalachite crystals of intense green color, forming defined, translucent prismatic tabular crystals. Specimens of this species in this mine are rare. The piece belonged to the E. Laskowski collection (Tucson, USA), with the seller's label. Very interesting specimen.

Size: 7.2 x 3.9 x 3.7 cm.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).
Classic locality

The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 5.2 x 4.8 x 2.1 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm. aggr.
Found in ±2000.

Analyzed specimen with report

Dadsonite is a rare chloro-sulfoantimonide of lead, compositionally differing from boulangerite by this chlorine anion (1 atom of Cl for 60 atoms of S!). In the "bad-lands" area of Sant Ponç (or Saint-Pons) there are lenticular levels of siderite and calcite. The formation of this rare sulfosalt is based on the redissolution of other sulfosalts in the presence of chlorides.
The fine needles of dadsonite usually appear included in calcite, along with boulangerite. Once the calcite is removed by chemical processes, needles emerge in all their beauty. It can also be found forming radial aggregates in matrix cavities. The dadsonite from Sant Ponç can probably be considered among the best worldwide.

Size: 7.2 x 5 x 3.8 cm.
Found in ±1997.

Analyzed specimen with report

La dadsonita es un raro cloro-sulfoantimoniuro de plomo (1 átomo de cloro por cada 60 de azufre), composicionalmente difiere de la boulangerita por este anión de cloro. En la zona de las "bad-lands" de Sant Ponç (o Saint-Pons) se encuentran niveles lenticulares de siderita y calcita. La formación de esta rara sulfosal se basa en la redisolución de otras sulfosales en presencia de cloruros.
Las finas agujas de dadsonita suelen aparecen incluídas en calcita, junto con boulangerita. Una vez la calcita se elimina mediante procesos químicos als finas agujas afloran en toda su belleza. También se la puede encontrar formando agregados radiales en cavidades de la matriz. Probablemente, la dadsonita de Sant Ponç puede considerarse entre las mejores del mundo.

Size: 6.6 x 5.2 x 4.3 cm.
Found in ±1997.

Analyzed specimen with report

Olive green prismatic olivenite crystals are arranged on a goethite matrix, along with dark green cornwallite and light green malachite aggregates. Brazil seems to have a little bit of everything when it comes to deposits, and even though it's best known for it gem pegmatites, there are all sorts of curious localities like Ibiajara where copper minerals (and even a little gold) have been found.

Size: 5 x 4.7 x 3 cm.

Group of fine prismatic crystals of calcite of hexagonal shape, with colour zoning and small recrystallizations of the same calcite in some areas of the piece. The crystals are on a fluorite matrix with quartz and small pyrite crystals. Both calcite (red-pink) and fluorite fluoresce under UV light.

Size: 8.5 x 5.2 x 3.9 cm.
Main crystal: 19 mm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of fine prismatic crystals of calcite of hexagonal shape, with colour zoning and small recrystallizations of the same calcite in some areas of the piece. The crystals are on a fluorite matrix with quartz and small pyrite crystals. Both calcite (red-pink) and fluorite fluoresce under UV light.

Size: 7.8 x 5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.

Calcite is fluorescent under LW-UV.

Anglesite specimens from this classic Moroccan mine are quite difficult to find. In this piece we can see numerous lanceolated prismatic crystals of this lead sulphate, very brilliant, with well defined faces and edges, transparent and showing the natural yellow colour characteristic of this species and mine. They are disposed filling cavities in a galena matrix.

Size: 7.8 x 4.7 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ±1990.

Cluster of aragonite crystals, very bright and defined. They are known in the area as "sputnik stones" (sic) because of their appearance. They present a color zoning on the surface, between gray and brown. They are floating. A Moroccan curiosity.

Size: 8.2 x 6.5 x 5.3 cm.
Main crystal: 10 mm.

Pineapple cluster of aragonite crystals, with transparence, very bright and defined. They are known in the area as "sputnik stones" (sic) because of their appearance. They present a color zoning on the surface, between gray and brown. They are floating. A Moroccan curiosity.

Size: 6.3 x 6 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 16 mm.

Group of good-sized sulphur crystals from a classic Spanish locality, but from a little-known mine, showing a great richness of faces, some brilliance and a canary yellow color. It is arranged in a cavity with calcite crystals. A fine Spanish specimen.

Size: 8.6 x 7.5 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).