Rosell Minerales

An old piece, showing prismatic cerussite crystals, of a snowy white color and brilliance. Striated faces of the prism and disposed by the matrix. Fluorescent under LW-UV light. The specimens of this classic Catalan mine located in the Vall de Ribes, Catalan Pyrenees, are impossible to find on the mine (almost disappeared) and are only seen in collections from years ago. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label, collected by himself on 1978, october.

Size: 6.5 x 6.2 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.
Found in 1978.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Aggregates of palygorskite fibers, of an intense white color, shiny. It is identified as coming from the Núria valley, in the Catalan Pyrenees, at the foot of the Puigmal mountain. A classic locality where this mineral appeared between limestone rocks. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 9.3 x 4.5 x 2 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Classic locality

And why not? A very brilliant piece of talc from this classic Catalan mine. In the surroundings of the locality of La Vajol there are a series of talc mines that were exploited until 1994. One of the curiosities of these talc mines, close to the France border, is that they were the hiding place, for a time, of the treasure of the Spanish Republic on the route of the main leaders of the Spanish Republic and the Generalitat de Catalunya to exile in 1939, at the end of the Spanish Civil War. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 9 x 6.5 x 2.4 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Classic locality

Druse of very well defined cubic fluorite crystals, transparent to translucent, with luster and a slightly greenish blue color. They are accompanied by small crystals of calcite. From this classic Catalan mines. Acquired by Joan Astor from Joan Montplet, a well-known mineral dealer from Sant Celoni, close to the Montseny massif.

Size: 4.5 x 4 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 1.3 cm.
Found in ca. 1979.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Aesthetic miniature of fluorite crystals of a greenish hue with geometric violet colour zoning. Partially covered by various aggregates of hyaline quartz crystals, peppered by small globular hematite that gives them a reddish hue. A piece from this classic Catalan mine, from the J. Astor and collection. by L. Daunis.

Size: 3.8 x 2.9 x 2.3 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. Joan Astor, Col. Daunis (Barcelona).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Siderite rhombohedral crystals, flattened, bright and defined. They have a honeyed to golden colour, with a second generation of smaller crystals. They are disposed on a matrix. Siderite specimens from this Catalan mine are uncommon.

Size: 7.4 x 6.8 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 0.9 cm.

Col. J. Povill (Olesa de Montserrat).

Globular aggregates formed by lamellar crystals of theisite. With a bluish to green color and brilliance. On a dolomite matrix with barite and chalcopyrite. This mineral species is the second citation in Spain. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Accompanied by several azurite, transparent, bright, well-defined and some doubly terminated. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.

Size: 8.6 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 2013.

Analyzed specimen with report

These rare specimens of actinolite correspond to those cited by L. Thomas (Els Minerals de Catalunya, year 1920) and E. Bareche (Els Minerals de Catalunya, Segle XX, year 2005: "Where it really appears in large quantities is inside the well they made near the creek in the mines of Can Serrat, road from Hostalric to Arbúcies, in the district of Sant Feliu de Buixalleu. It is shiny, greenish in color; we collected and kept specimens that were examined by Don Ramón Adan de Yarza, which confirmed our identification". It is a skarn formed by the contact of the granodiorites and the limestone of the Paleozoic. From the former Arguijo collection.

Size: 7 x 6 x 5 cm.
Found in 1970's.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona)

A specimen of this classic Catalan locality, with several interpenetrated cubic crystals of yellow fluorite, translucent and very defined. They are accompanied by calcite crystals and tiny chalcopyrite crystals. They are partially covered by a thin layer of illite, which we have preferred to leave to preserve the original aesthetic of the specimen. On a quartz matrix with feldspar.

Size: 6.2 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 9 x 8 mm.
Found in 10/1986.

#109 Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

Rich group of cubic fluorite crystals, very sharp, transparent and with a greenish to yellow tone very characteristic of these fluorites. This specimen is from the mines of Sant Marçal (also called of the Matagalls Mt.), located in the massif of El Montseny. Nowadays not many samples are seen with this quality. A classic of the Catalan Mineralogy.

 

Size: 9 x 8 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.7 x 2.3 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Good schorl specimen from the clssic locality of Cap de Creus, Girona. Some crystals showing a developed and faceted prism and terminal faces, some of them with good thickness. From this locality it is very difficult to obtain specimens if they do not appear in old collections, as it is the case, since it is totally forbidden to collect specimens in the area. This one belongs from the Manchion Collection and it is accompanied by the handwritten label.

Size: 7.3 x 7 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 2.1 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

Radiated aggregates of Tremolite from this classic Catalan locality. Specimens were found in a Cambrian-Ordovician marbles with calc-silicate levels. Outcrops at an altitude of 2700-2800 m, near Pic de l'Infern (Hell's Peak), 2870 m.

Size: 6.5 x 5.3 x 2.4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.8 cm.

Col. Manchion.

An old piece from el Cap de Creus (Creus Cape), in Girona. It presents different almandine crystals, with colour between pink to orange, some altered, others faceted, which are included in a matrix of pegmatite. They are accompanied by black schorl. Nowadays it is forbidden to collect anything in that area and it is difficult to find available pieces.

Size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ±1978.

Col. Manchion.

These samples of heterosite come from a classic area for the Catalan mineralogy such as Cap de Creus, in Girona. They belong from a former collection and were collected, according to the owners, by the 70s of the last century. Currently, in the Cap de Creus area, it is strictly forbidden to collect absolutely anything. These samples show aggregates of brownish-black tones, with a certain brightness, with layers of violet color and embeded in a pegmatitic matrix. No acid applied.
Bareche, in his work "Els Minerals de Catalunya, Segle XX" (2005), indicated the presence in this area of several rare Mn and Fe phosphates. He indicated that the purpurite was found in a single outcrop as small masses of violet and brownish color, along with heterosite from brown to black. From these specimens, several fragments of violet tone have been analyzed. The results have indicated that iron is predominant, with a ratio Fe:Mn, 2:1, consistent with heterosite. We do not rule out that purpurite (Mn> Fe) could be present, as member of heterosite-purpurite series.

Size: 7.8 x 5.8 x 3 cm.
Found in ±1970's

Classic locality

These samples of heterosite come from a classic area for the Catalan mineralogy such as Cap de Creus, in Girona. They belong from a former collection and were collected, according to the owners, by the 70s of the last century. Currently, in the Cap de Creus area, it is strictly forbidden to collect absolutely anything. These samples show aggregates of brownish-black tones, with a certain brightness, with layers of violet color and embeded in a pegmatitic matrix. No acid applied.
Bareche, in his work "Els Minerals de Catalunya, Segle XX" (2005), indicated the presence in this area of several rare Mn and Fe phosphates. He indicated that the purpurite was found in a single outcrop as small masses of violet color, along with heterosite from brown to black. From these specimens, several fragments of violet and brownish tone have been analyzed. The results have indicated that iron is predominant, with a ratio Fe:Mn, 2:1, consistent with heterosite. We do not rule out that purpurite (Mn> Fe) could be present, as member of heterosite-purpurite series.

Size: 7.0 x 4.7 x 1.6 cm.
Found in ±1970's

Analyzed specimen with report

Very sharp augite crystal of good size, very rich in faces, defined and bright. Intense black color. It is an old piece from the Manchion collection and comes from the well-known volcanic region of Olot, in Catalonia, where it is strickly forbidden to collect mineral samples.

Size: 3 x 2.5 x 2.2 cm
Found in 09/1984

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. Nr. 252, 09/1984.

Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Size: 6.8 x 6.5 x 3.8 cm
Found in 2015.

Analyzed specimen with report

Good size... Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite and manganese oxides, probably asbolane. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Size: 8.5 x 7.5 x 5.2 cm.
Found in 2015.

Analyzed specimen with report

Rich group of cubic fluorite crystals, very sharp, transparent and with a greenish to yellow tone very characteristic of these fluorites. This specimen is from the mines of Sant Marçal (also called of the Matagalls Mt.), located in the massif of El Montseny. Nowadays not many samples are seen with this quality. A classic of the Catalan Mineralogy.

Size: 10.5 x 8.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 15 x 12 mm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Excellent groups formed by lamellar crystals of claraite, of an intense turquoise blue, on a matrix of dolomite and sulphides. It is accompanied by spheric aggregates of theisite crystals. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.

Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.
We have published a book called "Rocabruna i el seu entorn. La mina de les Ferreres" where you could enjoy all species collected and determined until the date of publication (2014).

Size: 4.0 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 2015.

Excellent groups formed by lamellar crystals of claraite, of an intense turquoise blue, on a matrix of dolomite and sulphides. It is accompanied by spheric aggregates of theisite crystals, with a bluish to green color. Also with azurite. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.
We have published a book called "Rocabruna i el seu entorn. La mina de les Ferreres" where you could enjoy all species collected and determined until the date of publication (2014).

Size: 7.2 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm.
Found in 2013.

Globular aggregates formed by lamellar crystals of theisite. With a bluish to green color and brilliance. On a dolomite matrix with barite and chalcopyrite. This mineral species is the second citation in Spain. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Accompanied by several azurite, transparent, bright, well-defined and some doubly terminated. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
We have published a book called "Rocabruna i el seu entorn. La mina de les Ferreres" where you could enjoy all species collected and determined until the date of publication (2014).

Size: 7.5 x 5.6 x 1.4 cm.
Found in 2013.

They are well known yellow and colorless fluorite specimens from Matagalls (Sant Marçal) mines in the Montseny massif. But less common are these fluorite with blue to green tones (depending on the type of incident light). They show crystals cubic with defined faces and edges, good brilliance and transparence. They are accompanied by small aggregates of hyaline quartz. A historical piece.

Size: 7.5 x 4.2 x 3.7 cm.
Main crystal: 7 x 6 mm.
Found in 1990's.

Ex. col. Joan Rosell.
Fluorescent under long wave UV

This is a specimen of tabular barite crystals, colorless to yellowish tones and very good transparence. With minor marcassite on matrix. Stable till 1990's. These specimens are uncommon in the market. It comes from the former Daunis (Barcelona) collection. A piece with history.

Size: 8.0 x 5.0 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 x 4 mm.
Found in ±1990.

Ex.col. Daunis (Barcelona).

Cobaltkoritnigite specimens from this mine are the first report of this mineral in Spain. It appears forming globular aggregates with a deep pinkish red with erythrite (pink color). Under the electronic microscope we can observe that these globules are composed by tabular crystals. It is a cobalt with zinc arsenate and belongs to the koritnigita group (zinc arsenate). In this mine has been found at low levels. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
We have published a book called "Rocabruna i el seu entorn. La mina de les Ferreres" where you could enjoy all species collected and determined until the date of publication (2014).

Size: 6,8 x 2,8 x 1,4 cm.
Found in 2013.