Rosell Minerales

Baryte specimens from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, very unusual, and slight orange tone. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 9.1 x 6.2 x 5.6 cm.
Main crystal: 6.2 x 4 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

Baryte specimens from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, very unusual, and slight orange tone. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 5.7 x 5.5 x 5.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

Baryte specimens from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, very unusual, and slight orange tone. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 7.4 x 5.7 x 5.2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 x 3.7 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

The baryte from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, some exfoliated, very unusual, and slight orange tone. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 7.5 x 6.4 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 3.7 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

The baryte from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, very unusual, and slight orange tone. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 7.8 x 6 x 5.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

The baryte from the Montseny massif is well known to mineral collectors, especially samples found in the old Sant Marçal mines. Although in other areas baryte has also been collected, that is the case of these specimens, which were collected in the 70s of the last century. Collecting area was located between the Collformic and La Castanya, in the municipality of El Brull, in the same mountain massif. They shows a different appearance, presenting aggregates of thick, tabular crystals with parallel and crisscrossing growths, very unusual. Currently this area is included in the Montseny Natural Park.

Size: 6.7 x 6 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1970's.

Floater aggregate of laminar molybdenite crystals. Very brilliant. A piece of a certain size for this classic Catalan mine. From the Trigo collection (Mataró).

Size: 3.4 x 2.7 x 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1984

Col. A. Trigo (Mataró).
Classic locality

In this sample we can observe bright and aesthetic aggregates of lanceolated foliaceous hydromagnesite crystals, forming rosettes, of an intense white color, although they are colorless. All of them are arranged on a rock matrix. A Catalan piece that is difficult to find today, with rare species and with quality. Collected by Joan Astor in march, 1976.

Size: 6.2 x 4 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1976.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

This specimen of goethite after pyrite from Pedrera Berta (El Papiol, Barcelona) shows several cubic crystals completely transformed into goethite and limonite. Very brilliant and with fluorite on matrix. A classic of this mine, nowadays not easy to find. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 6.6 x 5.8 x 2.6 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 6 mm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Classic locality

On this classic matrix from Pedrera Berta (quarry), with quartz, fluorite, pyrolusite... we can observe some cavities in which some small but brilliant rhombohedral smithsonite crystals stand out, with a golden color. Viewed under magnification they are really aesthetic to take a "microphoto". They are accompanied by malachite aggregates. Collected by the well-known Catalan mineral collector Manuel Moreno "Manolo" and from the Joan Astor collection, with labels.

Size: 8.6 x 5.2 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1974.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Classic locality

Evansite specimens from Santa Creu d'Olorda are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. In this specimen we can see an amorphous mass of this aluminum phosphate with an intense green color and a vitreous luster. It is disposed on a graphite-bituminous shale matrix.

Size: 7.6 x 3.8 x 3.6 cm.

Classic locality

Many years ago, these crystal aggregates were classified as brushite, but later analysis indicated that it was hydroxylapatite with carbonate groups. Fluorapatite is not common in Bruguers. These globular aggregates are disposed on an upholstered matrix with bright green microcrystals of montgomeryite. The matrix is goethite. From the J. Astor collection, formerly col. Jordi Pi, well-known nature and geological landscape photographer and mineral collector (Barcelona).

Size: 4.2 x 4.1 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. Joan Astor & Col. Jordi Pi (Barcelona)

Variscite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate present in different Catalan deposits found in the Catalan Coastal Mountain Ranges. Well-known sites are those of the Serra de Miramar, in Tarragona; Bruguers, Gavà and Cerdanyola in Barcelona, along with the well-known site of Montcada i Reixac, close to the city of Barcelona. Less well known are the deposits in the northernmost area of these mountain ranges, between Malgrat de Mar and Pineda de Mar area. This specimen comes from the Malgrat area and was found in surveys near Can Palomeres. The variscite vein shows a green color with yellow to whitish tones. It is included in slates with other phosphates such as phosphosiderite and strengite. We can observe so-called ptygmatic folds produced by the entry of a viscous fluid (variscite) into a less viscous one.

Size: 10 x 7.2 x 6.2 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 cm. vein/veta
Found in 2018.

Druse of fluorite crystals with octahedral forms. Intense green color on a matrix of the classic granodiorite from this Catalan mine.

Size: 7 x 4.5 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 0.7 cm.
Found in ca. 1997.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

In this piece, three very interesting magnesium species, two hydroxilcarbonates and one hydroxide coexist. On the one hand we observe some aggregates of foliaceous crystals of dypingite, forming rosettes, white color, although they are colorless. They are accompanied by sheaves of flattened crystals of hydromagnesite. All of them are disposed on a rock matrix with blue to gray brucite. A Catalan piece that is hard to find today, with unusual species and quality.

Size: 6 x 5 x 3.2 cm.
Found in 1970's.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Hydromagnesite specimens from "Pedreres de l'Àngel" (Angel quarries), in Gualba (Barcelona), are a classic for the Catalan mineralogy. In this specimen we can observe some aggregates formed by radiated crystals, some of them of good size (more than 2 cm.), others smaller (up to 8 mm), very brilliant. Nowadays impossible to be found... This mines are a skarn due to contact metamorphism of Hercynian granodiorite and biotite granite into Cambrian marbles.

Size: 9.4 x 6.5 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Col. Arguijo (Barcelona).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of octahedral fluorite crystals, of intense green color and in stepped growths. From the classic Berta Quarry, in which it is now totally forbidden to extract minerals.

Size: 2.8 x 2.4 x 1.8 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of sharp isolated octahedral fluorite crystals, from translucent to transparent. They show an interesting slight apple green color. They are accompanied by small quartz crystals. On a granite matrix. This matrix is classic for modern specimens and comes from low levels of the Berta quarry.

Size: 6.5 x 4.4 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 0.8 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Sharp isolated octahedral fluorite crystal, translucent, glassy. It shows an interesting slight apple green color. Accompanied by small quartz crystals. On a granite matrix. This matrix is classic for modern specimens and comes from low levels of the Berta quarry.

Size: 8 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 0.8 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of sharp calcite crystals, with rhombohedral flattened shape, translucent. From a unusual locality not well represented in collections.

Size: 5 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.4 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Rich aggregate of diopside crystals, with an intense apple green color. In the cavities we can observe the shapes of the lanceolate prisms. From a classic Catalan mine, from which it is difficult to obtain samples. A local curiosity.

Size: 6.3 x 3.5 x 2.8 cm.

Col. Manchion.

Curious specimen of greenockite of this classic locality of the Catalan mineralogy. Under loupe, aggregates of intense yellow color are observed, with reflections of what could be crystalline faces. This cadmium sulphide is a product of the alteration of rich Cd sphalerite. It is impossible to get specimens today.

Size: 4.5 x 3.2 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. Manchion #398.

Rich group of sharp isolated octahedral fluorite crystals, from translucent to transparent. They show an interesting slight apple green color. They are accompanied by small quartz crystals. On a granite matrix. This matrix is classic for modern specimens and comes from low levels of the Berta quarry.

Size: 5.8 x 5.2 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ±1989

Fluorescent under long wave UV

A group of fluorite crystals those, at first glance, seem just octahedra, but if you take a look carefully you will see complex terminations. Green color and dull luster. Acompanied by small quartz crystals. A classic from the former Manchion (Barcelona) collection, collected by himself in January, 1986.

Size: 7.8 x 6 x 5.8 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 8 mm.
Found in 01/1986.

Fluorescent under LW-UV and SW-UV lights

Rich group of microcline crystals, some of them with the Mannebach twin, well defined. Specimen belonging to the collection of Sr. Manchion, acquired at the Sant Celoni mineral show in March 1985. A piece with history.

Size: 7 x 5.5 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 15 mm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. Num. 159.