Rosell Minerales

Specimen formed by a crustof purple smithsonite, botryoidal, pink to lilac, with satiny luster and good translucence. A miniature sample of the old smithsonites from the classic Choix locality. With old label from the Trigo (Mataró) collection, where it indicates Durango and "cobaltoan" smithsonite. But the locality is Choix.

Size: 3.6 x 3.4 x 1.6 cm.
Found in ±1978.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

A very good size specimen formed by numerous lanceolated baryte crystals, with very good definition of faces and edges. Between transparent to translucent and with a yellowish tone with zoning. They are disposed very aerial on the matrix, with crystals of calcite and fluorite with honey tones. Fluorite is active under LW-UV light. An exceptional specimen for this classic Asturian mine.

Size: 12 x 11.7 x 11 cm.
Main crystal: 2.2 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Very good size (15.5 cm) specimen of vanadinite, formed by several crystal aggregates, on both faces of the piece, on a solid matrix. Good brilliance, with some transparence. For display.

Size: 15.5 x 11.2 x 7.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.
Found in ±2001.

Classic locality

Groups of vanadinite crystals, isolated, very brilliant and with an intense color. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 10 x 4.8 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ±1977.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

Stibiconite species totally replacing a stibnite crystal, very elongated, with multiple terminations and partially covered by scalenohedral calcite crystals with staggered growths. A classic of Mexican mineralogy. It belongs to the former Joan Astor collection (Barcelona) with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 8 x 1.4 x 0.9 cm.
Found in ±1976.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Classic locality

Pyrite specimens from the Elba Island are an Italian classic. But specimens of pyrite, richly faceted, sharp and brilliant included in serpentine are very rare. Undammaged. The label of this specimen indicates that it comes from this famous island. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 6.4 x 6.1 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 x 1.3 cm.
Found in ±1975.

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

The fossil woods of the US state of Washington have been well known since the 19th century. This specimen is a wood opal from this area and clearly shows the growth rings of the tree in question. If it is a fir tree or another member of the pine trees, it is already a subject on which we cannot pronounce ourselves.
As we can read in a brochure from the 80s (visit link): "Petrified wood is found throughout the state and is symbolic of our early forests. It represents a period of geological time when extensive volcanism buried great forests with volcanic ash and basaltic lava".

Size: 7.5 x 5 x 1.7 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

The uvarovite specimens from the Jeffrey are not at all common. This specimen from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona, Catalunya) dates from the 70s, when some specimens were collected. Small but brilliant and transparent crystals of this garnet, extreme with chromium of the grosularia-uvarovite series.

Size: 5.7 x 3.7 x 3.1 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

A very ancient specimen showing a quartz matrix with carbonates and pyrite crystals. Covered with thin boulangerite needle-like crystals. Very brilliant and dotted with calcite or dolomite colourless rombohedrons. The original handwritten label of the Astor collection, dated in 1978, indicates it comes from Concepción del Oro, but we believe we can say it is from the Mazapil area, a locality very close to Concepción. In those years, geographical themes were not so determined. Adquired in a very "old mineral shop" in Plaça Reial square, Barcelona.

Size: 6.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm.
Found in ±1978.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

Colorless, vitreous and brilliant phacolite crystals covering the volcanic rock matrix. Phacolite is a variety of chabazite, with a pseudohexagonal lenticular shape, due to the twinning of several rhombohedrons. A very nice miniature from the former Trigo collection, from Mataró (Catalonia), with its handwritten label.

Size: 3.4 x 2.5 x 1.5 CM.
Found in ±1985.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

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

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

Size: 1.4 x 1 x 0.7 cm.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

Groups of octaedral magnetite crystals, some in staggered growth, with an excellent luster, very well defined faces and edges. They are disposed on a matrix of microcline crystals.

Size: 5 x 4.6 x 3.3 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

Group of quartz crystals, of the amethyst variety, the main one is very elongated. Very transparent, with defined faces and edges, and with a delicate and uniform purple color. From the former Trigo collection, from Mataró (Catalonia), with its handwritten label.

Size: 7.2 x 3 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ±1993.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

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

These are the most fine quality romanèchite specimens ever found in Spain. These botryoidal aggregates show the velvet surface formed by several small romanèchite/pyrolusite crystals (see SEM photo). These specimens has not been treated, only fresh water. Romanèchite shows in fresh fracture the classic grey color. You can observe small but brilliant crystals of pyrolusite on the stalactitic surface. Analysis will be send to the buyer.

Size: 4.7 x 2.8 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ±2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

This esthetic floater gypsum specimen shows rosette shapes on larger crystals in parallel growth. Very defined, brilliant and with a delicate pink tone still visible. These specimens were more pink when collected but over time that hue has faded. Very fluorescent, with yellow and orange tones. The label indicates that it is from Mexican Baja California, but I am sure it is from Guerrero Negro. A magnificent specimen with many years. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label and another typewritten. It was acquired in 1976 from Bailey Minerals (Ángel Jesús Talabán García, Segovia 1942-Madrid 2007).

Size: 9.5 x 5 x 3.4 cm.
Found in ±1976.

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

Group of prismatic crystals of amazonite, a variety of microcline. With defined faces of prisms and pinacoids. It has this characteristic bluish-green color. Pikes Peak is the "mecca" of the amazonites, one of several mountains formed by the erosion of the Pikes Peak batholith, famous for its myarolytic cavities with smoky quartz, amazonite, topaz, among others. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 5.4 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1976.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

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

This specimen was classified as prehnite, according to the accompanying label. When in doubt, a Raman analysis was carried out. The results indicated that it was a calcite. But a calcite from the volcanic areas of Puerto Rico... It is a globular aggregate of scalenohedral crystals. An unusual curiosity to complete unusual locations in the collection. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 7.3 x 5.7 x 3.9 cm.
Main crystal: 0.7 cm.
Found in ±1973.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

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

Group of very brilliant wulfenite crystals with an intense orange color, with zoning. They stand out on a matrix of calcite. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 5.2 x 5 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ±1975.

Group of bustamite crystals, of good size and an intense orange-brown color, with visible faces. They are included in a matrix with calcite and galena. They present the natural brilliance, with exfoliation on some parts, this piece has not been acidified. Calcite is very active under UV light, with an intense orange emission. It is not very common to find pieces of this species and locality. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 6.6 x 5 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 4.6 cm.
Found in ±1977.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
Calcite is fluorescent under LW-UV.

Fan-shaped aggregates of epidote crystals with an intense green color and luster. They are accompanied by hyaline quartz crystals and fine olive green actinolite needles. A different specimen from this classic Moroccan locality.

Size: 8,6 x 6,5 x 5,2 cm.
Main crystal: 2 cm.