Rosell Minerales

Scolecite and aerinite specimens from this Aragonese area are known worldwide. This specimen shows us groups of acicular crystals forming radiated aggregates in the dolerite and that, when extracted, allow us to see their internal arrangement perfectly. White in color, with iron oxydes patina, and good brilliance. Samples of this quality and size are not common and even less so today.

Size: 9.6 x 7.4 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 17 mm. aggreg.

Classic locality

Blocky aerinite criptocristalline with fragments of dolerite included. Aerinite was used as a blue pigment in many Romanesque paintings in the Pyrenees between the 11th and 14th centuries. Its characteristic blue color varies from dark to pale blue. In fact, its name comes from a Greek root aerinos meaning "atmosphere" or "sky", as it was only known by that color.

Size: 6.5 x 5 x 3.7 cm.

These specimens come from the rocky outcrops that are located near the town of Serveto. These are doleritic rocks in which epidote and these prehnites are found in. Currently it is very difficult to get samples. These specimens we offer date from the years 2005-2006. Prehnite appears as globular aggregates of prismatic crystals, sometimes more developed and visible. The light green color is very uniform. Rare locality not well represented in collections.

Size: 8.9 x 6.9 x 3.3 cm.
Found in ±2005-2006.

These specimens come from the rocky outcrops that are located near the town of Serveto. These are doleritic rocks in which epidote and these prehnites are found in. Currently it is very difficult to get samples. These specimens we offer date from the years 2005-2006. Prehnite appears as globular aggregates of prismatic crystals, sometimes more developed and visible. The light green color is very uniform. Rare locality not well represented in collections.

Size: 8.8 x 5.5 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ±2005.

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).

Rich group of dolomite rhombohedral crystals, very well defined faces and edges, with luster on the faces not covered by a thin patina of dolomite with a more brown tone. Presents some exfoliated crystal, when mined. A piece of good size and aesthetics from this classic Spanish locality.

Size: 9.5 x 8 x 7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 cm.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Classic locality

From this locality you could find samples in the market, but with a group of interpenetrated crystals, rather few. A curiosity...

Size: 6 x 5.3 x 2 cm.

Group of sharp gypsum crystals, transparent, lanceolated, with defined faces and edges. A classic from Spanish mineralogy.

Size: 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.4 cm.
Found in 1988.

Col. Manchion #421, J. Fabre, 1988.
Fluorescent and phosphorescent under long wave UV

Scolecite and aerinite specimens from this small Aragonese town are known worldwide. This specimen shows groups of acicular prismatic crystals those form globular aggregates which, when extracted, they allow us to see the radiated growths perfectly. Snowy white color and good luster. Samples of this quality and size are rare and less nowadays. With Sr. Daunis handwritten label.

Size: 11 x 7.2 x 3.6 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Col. L. Daunis (Barcelona).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Huge size gypsum twinned crystal from a classic Spanish locality. From the Manchion collection (Barcelona).

Size: 13.2 x 6 x 3 cm
Found in 1986.

Classic locality

This old specimen, of which supplier didn't had no more info about its original owner, was accompanied by a label where we can read: "Goethite pseud. Magnesite". Consulting the works "Minerales de España" by Salvador Calderón (1910) and the modern version of Miguel Calvo (2009), they mention the presence of pseudomorphic substitutions of goethite (limonite) after siderite in this Aragonese locality: Ojos Negros mines. They preserve the rhombohedral form or, less commonly, as "(...) lenticular pseudocrystals or in the form of short prisms with a hexagonal section and rounded faces that can exceed one centimeter in length (...)" (Calvo, 2009).
Therefore we can deduce that what we are showing is one of these curious pseudomorphs of goethite after siderite or magnesite. A good sized specimen, full of crystallographic history, chemistry and a classic Spanish locality.

Size: 11.5 x 6.0 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 22 x 17 mm.

Classic locality

Scolecite and aerinite specimens from this small Aragonese town are known worldwide. This specimen shows groups of acicular prismatic crystals those form globular aggregates which, when extracted, they allow us to see the radiated growths perfectly. Snowy white color and good luster. Samples of this quality and size are rare and less nowadays.

Size: 12.2 x 9.8 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 14 mm aggr.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Globular aggregates of prehnite crystals, dull luster and light green. From a Spanish locality not well represented in collections.

Size: 7.3 x 5.0 x 2.7 cm.
Found in 2006.

Celestine specimens from Azaila are recognized in the mineralogical world for its beauty, intense color and richness of facets. In the area of Azaila-Lécera we can find good size nodules and nodular levels of silexites. Most of these nodules are compact, but at certain levels appear cavities with gypsum and quartz crystals (sometimes amethyst). In very few of these cavities we can find celestine crystals. Large crystals are usually imperfect. Today it is very difficult to get good specimens from this Aragonese locality.
In this specimen we can see a cavity within the flint matrix in which has developed a faceted celestine crystal. Honey to yellowish tone, very sharp, brilliant and with an exceptional transparency.

Size: 6.5 x 6.0 x 5.8 cm.
Main crystal: 9 x 5 mm.
Found in 2012.

Probably one of the best celestine specimens I've seen in this locality. Very aerial, with really good size and showing well defined faces and edges. Honey color, intense with certain zoning and an excellent transparence. Facetted by the pinacoid and various rhombic prisms. The cavity is completely covered by small quartz crystals, brilliant, between hyaline to amethyst. A definitive first quality specimen from Azaila, nearly impossible to find.

Celestine specimens from Azaila are recognized in the mineralogical world for its beauty, intense color and richness of facets. In the area of Azaila-Lécera we can find good size nodules and nodular levels of silexites. Most of these nodules are compact, but at certain levels appear cavities with gypsum and quartz crystals (sometimes amethyst). In very few of these cavities we can find celestine crystals. Large crystals are usually imperfect. Today it is very difficult to get good specimens from this Aragonese locality.

Size: 9.2 x 7.8 x 5.2 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 8 mm.
Found in 2012.

Celestine specimens from Azaila are recognized in the mineralogical world for its beauty, intense color and richness of facets. In the area of Azaila-Lécera we can find good size nodules and nodular levels of silexites. Most of these nodules are compact, but at certain levels appear cavities with gypsum and quartz crystals (sometimes amethyst). In very few of these cavities we can find celestine crystals. Large crystals are usually imperfect. Today it is very difficult to get good specimens from this Aragonese locality.

In this specimen we can observe a big cavity. It contains a group of well formed celestine crystals with color zoning between honey to colorless and nice transparence. Very rich in faces, they show pinacoidal faces close to rhombic prisms. The cavity is completely covered by small quartz crystals, brilliant, between hyaline to amethyst. A great specimen.

Size: 10.8 x 8.0 x 4.0 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 3 mm.
Found in 2012.

Celestine specimens from Azaila are recognized in the mineralogical world for its beauty, intense color and richness of facets. In the area of Azaila-Lécera we can find good size nodules and nodular levels of silexites. Most of these nodules are compact, but at certain levels appear cavities with gypsum and quartz crystals (sometimes amethyst). In very few of these cavities we can find celestine crystals. Large crystals are usually imperfect. Today it is very difficult to get good specimens from this Aragonese locality.

In this specimen we can observe a line of cavities. The main vug contains a rich group of well formed celestine crystals, one of them with a very good size, with a very marked honey tone and nice transparence. Very rich in faces, it shows pinacoidal faces close to rhombic prisms. The cavity is completely covered by small quartz crystals, brilliant, between hyaline to amethyst. A great specimen more than representative.

Size: 9.5 x 7.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 4 mm.
Found in 2012.

A classic Spanish specimen not easy to find today. These crystals from Ariño were collected many years ago and today it is really difficult to find them as mines have been abandoned. This specimen belongs to a private collection and the owner extracted it in the 90s.
Crystal stands by its size, transparency and carbonaceous inclusions. In certain areas it shows forms of natural redisolution.

Size: 12,7 x 5,2 x 2,7 cm.
Found in 1990's.

Group of water-clear gypsum crystals, one of them dominant and with a good size. They show a magnificent luster and transparency and very well defined edges and faces. Disposed very aerial on a white alabaster matrix covered by small gypsum crystals. In this specimen we can observe a marked swallowtail twin in one of the crystals and defined terminal faces in others. Very interesting and representative for the best display.
Under short and long wave ultraviolet light sources these specimens show intense fluorescence and long live phosphorescence. Selenite specimens from Fuentes de Ebro quarries have been considered the best ones worldwide.

Size: 7,0 x 6,8 x 5,5 cm.
Main crystal: 42 x 15 mm.
Found in 1980's.

Fluorescent and phosphorescent under long wave UV

Group of water-clear gypsum crystals, one of them dominant, near to doubly terminated and with a good size. They show a magnificent luster and transparency and very well defined edges and faces. Disposed very aerial on a white alabaster matrix covered by small gypsum crystals. In this specimen we can observe phantom growths in the main crystal and a marked swallowtail twin. Very interesting and representative.
Under short and long wave ultraviolet light sources these specimens show intense fluorescence and long live phosphorescence. Selenite specimens from Fuentes de Ebro quarries have been considered the best ones worldwide.

Size: 5,3 x 5,2 x 5,0 cm.
Main crystal: 38 x 14 mm.
Found in 1980's.

Fluorescent and phosphorescent under long wave UV

Group of water-clear gypsum crystals, one of them dominant and with a good size. They show a magnificent luster and transparency and very well defined edges and faces. Disposed very aerial on a white alabaster matrix covered by small gypsum crystals. In this specimen we can observe some phantom growths in the main crystal and a marked swallowtail twin. Very interesting and representative.
Under short and long wave ultraviolet light sources these specimens show intense fluorescence and long live phosphorescence. Selenite specimens from Fuentes de Ebro quarries have been considered the best ones worldwide.

Size: 4,8 x 4,0 x 2,1 cm.
Main crystal: 33 x 13 mm.
Found in 1980's.

Fluorescent and phosphorescent under long wave UV

In this specimen we can observe different groups of pyromorphite crystals showing hexagonal prisms, some of them truncated by the pinacoid and others more acute. The green tone is presented in some crystals with good transparence and color zoning, while others are almost colorless.
In the town of Munébrega were worked some mines where sulphosalts were exploted. Currently they are collapsed. A specimen from a not common Spanish locality.

Size: 5,8 x 3,0 x 2,8 cm.
Main crystal: 4 x1 mm.

Scolecite and aerinite specimens from this small Aragonese town are known worldwide. This specimen shows groups of acicular prismatic crystals those form globular aggregates which, when extracted, they allow us to see the radiated growths perfectly. Snowy white color and good luster. Samples of this quality are rare and less nowaday. Usually radiated aggregates appear very flat filling cavities into the dolerite rock.

Size: 5,0 x 4,4 x 2,3 cm.
Main crystal: 21 mm.
Found in ca 1990.

Ex-col. Daunis Barcelona).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Brilliant fribrous aerinite aggregates, with a blue color with greenish tones. Usually aerinite from this classic locality is layering fissures in the dolerite rocky matrix. In this sample, the development of the fibers and its luster make it an excellent representative for the species. From a classic Spanish locality.

Size: 7,4 x 5,4 x 2,5 cm.
Main crystal: 10 mm (fribr.).

A very rich marcasite specimen covered by a layer of small but very sharp and brilliant crystals, with metallic reflections between gold and greenish tones, with iridescence.

These marcasite crystals show tabular forms and the Sperkise twin (from the German Speerkies –Speer: spear and Kies: rock-. It has been used as a synonym for marcasite specimens). This twin is characterized by being formed by 4 or 5 crystals cyclically disposed around a central axis parallel to c.

Size: 4,2 x 5,5 x 9,3 cm
Main crystal: 1,5 x 1,5 mm
Found in 02/2011