Rosell Minerales

Very rich specimen formed by several rosettes of tabular to lenticular azurite crystals, intense color and contrasting on the matrix, with quartz. Its origin is due to the alteration of the chalcopyrite and are disposed on a silicified limestone matrix. Very good piece for the locality.

Size: 8 x 5.4 x 4.4 cm.

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

Fibrous aggregate of tremolite crystals, very brilliant and with an olive green colour. They are accompanied by prismatic crystals of darker green actinolite and orange calcite. Good size and representative for the locality and the species. The Manuel-Mercedes open pit is embedded in the granitic intrusions that were accompanied by contact metamorphism and gave rise to the formation of the skarn, with important deposits of magnetite.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 5.2 cm.

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: 7 x 4.8 x 4.2 cm.
Found in 2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

Excellent specimen formed by very numerous aggregates of pyrargyrite crystals. Intense brightness, with red transparence, crystals are very rich in faces. We have analyzed some of the crystals and we will send the results to the buyer. For display, but also to observe/enjoy under the magnifying glass.

Size: 5.6 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2 mm.

Brilliant botryoidal hematite specimen. In the back side we observe very esthetic concentric growths of different colours, fibrous, of hematite. These pieces have been cleaned in origin with sand which eliminates the surface oxide layer to let us see these spherical forms of good size. Very curious Moroccan novelty.

Size: 7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Good botryoidal specimen of hematite. In the back side we observe very esthetic growths of different tones, fibrous, of hematite. These pieces are usually cleaned at the origin with sand, but in this case and because of the luster, we do not believe that it was. Very curious Moroccan novelty.

Size: 7 x 3.5 x 3 cm.
Found in 2018.

Group of fluorite crystals showing sharp edges and cube faces with polysynthetic growths. Good color, intense between purple to violet, depending on the incident light and with geometric colour zoning.

Size: 7.5 x 3.7 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3.7 cm.
Found in ±1980

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

Very curious specimen formed by several cubic crystals of halite, some with hoppered growth forms, bright and translucent. A very aesthetic neoformation of these "salinas" (saltworks). Although it is believed that the Romans, in the s. I AD, they already extracted salt from the area, the saltworks of Imón were built in the 10th century and have been exploited intermittently for centuries. In 2015 they returned to production with the construction of new pools of enormous dimensions.

Size: 9 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 20 x 15 mm.
Found in ±2014

In the eastern part of the beach of Lapari there are the known septaria of Deba. The reef may have about 15 m, but it is not distinguished from the rest of the marly formation of the black flysch of Deba beach. The first publications on the septaria of Deba date from 1958. The upper part of the site has been totally destroyed by works, and in the part of the beach, foreign and local collectors collected numerous specimens. Currently this area has been declared of special protection within the coastal biotope Deba-Zumaia so the collection of septaria is absolutely prohibited [link]. Polished section.

Size: 5 x 4.8 x 1 cm.
Found in ±1970

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de L.)

Aesthetic cluster of greenish andradite crystals, very well defined, bright and slightly iridescent. From Stanley Butte, Arizona, classic locality for these specimens. No damage to any of the main crystals.

Size: 7.8 x 5 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 14 mm.
Found in ±1988

Col. Manchion (Barcelona) #403 E. Kucera (1988).

Very brilliant aggregates of azurite crystals, well defined and with the characteristic deep blue color. On an altered chalcopyrite matrix partially covered by a layer of velvety malachite. An good size and old specimen from this Catalan collection.

Size: 10 x 6.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1980

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de L.)

Globular aggregates formed by acicular crystals of rosasite, with colours between deep green and light bluish green. Very aesthetic and disposed on a matrix of goethite. From this classic Mexican mine.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 4.8 cm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de L.)

Druse of very sharp baryte crystals showing developed and striated prismatic faces, truncated by pinacoids. The crystals are translucent, and color varies between colorless to yellowish. Excellent brilliance. Similar specimens were classified, many years ago, as hokutolite (a lead-rich baryte variety) but further analysis showed that there was only a minor lead content.

Size: 7.5 x 6 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 6-7 mm.
Found in ±1975

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Analyzed specimen with report

Druse of small quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, partially covered by white kaolinite. Peppered by several anatase crystals, with dipyramidal faces, truncated by basal pinacoid. Very sharp, translucent and with a toasted honey tone. Very aesthetic and rare in the market.
It is interesting to say that recent analysis of the reddish ashlars of the Torre Nueva (New Tower) of the Astorga cathedral indicated that these building materials were extracted from this Cantera del Moro during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Size: 6 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2.5 mm.

Druse of small quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, partially covered by white kaolinite. Peppered by several anatase crystals, with dipyramidal faces, truncated by basal pinacoid. Very sharp, translucent and with a toasted honey tone. Very aesthetic and rare in the market.
It is interesting to say that recent analysis of the reddish ashlars of the Torre Nueva (New Tower) of the Astorga cathedral indicated that these building materials were extracted from this Cantera del Moro during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Size: 10 x 9 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 mm.

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 rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with fluorite, quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 2.6 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 cm.

A very aerial malachite aggregate, showing fibrous crystals, intense colour, with zoning, and good luster. On a matrix with dolomite small crystals. A very aesthetic specimen from this classic Moroccan mines.

Size: 5 × 4.3 × 3.2 cm
Main crystal: 3 cm

Aesthetic vanadinite specimen, really good for the locality. We can observe crowned prismatic crystals with color zonació and intense brightness. An interesting article on MR: Leon, M. and Liso, M.J. (1996): Vanadinite from the Gerty Mine Badajoz Spain. Mineralogical Record, 27(5), 381-384.

Size: 5.5 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm.

Radial aggregates of stibnite crystals, very brilliant and in the rocky matrix. We can see some flattened crystals. Of this old mine where today it is difficult to find pieces.

Size: 5.3 x 3.7 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1984.

Col. Manchion #93, 06/1984.

Druse of fluorite crystals, with cube shapes, translucent and of a green color. They are partially covered by small quartz crystals that show forms of corrosion. With intense fluorescence activity under LW-UV light. Very curious. From the Manchion Collection.

Size: 10 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1986.

Col. Manchion #219, 01/1986,
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Rich aggregate of malachite crystals, brilliant, with an intense green color, which stand out on a matrix of blue-green chrysocolla. Very aesthetic

Size: 7.4 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.

A classic old-time specimen of hydroxylherderite, well crystallized, with sharp translucent idiomorphic monoclinic crystals. Lustrous and with a greenish-yellow tone. Associated with albite and muscovite from the Golconda pegmatite in Brazil. From Manchion Collection, purchased to Dr. Joan Viñals. Previously misidentified as herderite.

Size: 5.5 x 4.2 x 2.7 cm.
Found in ±1987.

Col. Manchion #364, J. Viñals 04/1987,