Rosell Minerales

In this specimen we can enjoy groups of tabular crystals showing well defined faces and parallel growths. They are interpenetrated between them and accompanied by small but perfect tabular wulfenite crystals. Some of them present small ding, very common in this samples, but this one is really good. The brilliance is good and in thin parts showing transparence. They are very aerial disposed on the matrix.

Size: 6.3 x 5 x 3.7 cm.
Main crystal: 7 x 6 mm.
Found in ±1998

Classic locality

A prismatic crystal that just looks like the typical ones from Touissit, but a more detailed check shows the unusual richness of the termination, with lots of faces. Definition, brilliance, and color are the outstanding features of this sample. This azurite crystal, in the form of a broad spear point, exhibits electric blue highlights, lustre, and numerous step faces on both sides of the of the crystal. It is a magnificent crystal with only one minor ding/contact on one terminal face, otherwise, it is really aesthetic. A very old specimen, very difficult to get nowadays.

Size: 3.4 x 3.1 x 1.4 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Classic locality

Interesting specimen of ferro-hornblende from a little known African locality. Various pseudocubic crystals of deep greenish tone. It is difficult to find specimens of this quality for the species. Named in 1789 by Abraham Gottlieb Werner from an old German term for dark minerals with no ore value and from "blende", meaning to deceive in allusion to it occurring in ore deposits but not yielding any metal and for ferro- indicating Fe2+ as a dominant cation.

Size: 4.5 x 3.6 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 7 x 6 mm.

Group of crystals of adamite, which show a geometric color zoning from yellow to violet due to the presence of manganoan adamite, a variety of adamite rich in manganese. Thios cation gives to these specimens a violet to purple core. Very bright, defined and with transparence that allows us to see this species. Nice and aesthetic specimen.

Size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 7 x 2 mm.

Classic locality

Group of crystals of adamite, which show a geometric color zoning from yellow to violet due to the presence of manganoan adamite, a variety of adamite rich in manganese. Thios cation gives to these specimens a violet to purple core. Very bright, defined and with transparence that allows us to see this species. Nice and aesthetic specimen.

Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 2 mm.

Classic locality

Heterogeneite specimens of Kabolela are among the most appreciated by systematic mineral collectors. This piece shows a botryoidal aggregate, of which we consider HCoO2 formula, according to the latest studies on the species. Intense black color, brilliance, waxy luster... A classic and very aesthetic definitive specimen.

Size: 6.7 x 4 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ±1960

Very well developed prismatic colorless transparent crystals of quartz showing phantom geometrical inclusions. These inclusions of pale green fuchsite crystals takes well defined forms. Crystals are free of damage. Very interesting specimen.

Size: 5.1 x 4.6 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3.8 x 1.4 cm.
Found in 2013

Col. C. Manresa (Balaguer)

Group of bournonite prismatic crystals, with striated faces by the cyclic twin; interesting acute terminal faces, good brilliance and complete crystals. They are accompanied by bright aggregates of acicular boulangerite and sharp pyrite crystals. They are accompanied by lenticular crystals of possible magnesite or dolomite. A sample purchased by Sr. Manchion from Dr. Joan Viñals, in the 80s. A different piece from this Peruvian locality.

Size: 5.6 x 4.3 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 2 mm.
Found in 12/1984.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No. 120. J. Viñals, 12/984.

The label of this specimen reads "Sevilla". In the catalog of the Manchion collection it is mentioned that this piece of schorl-dravite was acquired to Dr. Joan Viñals, at the Granollers fair in 1988. For that reason, in the absence of more info, we will leave this wonderful Andalusian region as its origin. M. Calvo talks about tourmalines in pegmatites from the Los Ángeles mine, near El Castillo de las Guardas, in Seville.

Size: 4.5 x 3.8 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1988.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No. 399. J. Viñals, 1988.

On a matrix of quartz crystals, with azurite, there are numerous fibrous aggregates of malachite crystals. Intense color, good brilliance and silky luster. A very bright piece.

Size: 7.5 x 6.4 x 3.0 cm.
Found in ±1988.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No.427.

Group of very well defined cuprite crystals showing very unusual facets both for the species and for this classic locality for the species. They have very well defined faces of the cube and the octahedron, together with those of the dodecahedron. Under intense light the red transparency is observed, but the surface shows a gray patina, the years have passed away. They are placed on a cavity of brilliant calcite crystals. An interesting rarity.

Size: 7.3 x 5.5 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 9 x 5 mm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de M.) No. 544

Specimen formed by a large group of aggregated nodules of variscite with concentric growths and apple green color. They are enclosed in a matrix with limonite. We can see the concentric structures in the natural fracture. Since its discovery in 1970, the Palazuelo de las Cuevas deposit became the "source" of variscite for the NW of the Iberian peninsula.

Size: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.3 cm.
Found in ±1980's

Specimen formed by a large group of aggregated nodules of variscite with concentric growths and apple green color. They are enclosed in a matrix with limonite. We can see the concentric structures in the natural fracture. Since its discovery in 1970, the Palazuelo de las Cuevas deposit became the "source" of variscite for the NW of the Iberian peninsula.

Size: 6.2 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1980's

Specimen formed by a large group of aggregated nodules of variscite with concentric growths and apple green color. They are enclosed in a matrix with limonite. We can see the concentric structures in the natural fracture. Since its discovery in 1970, the Palazuelo de las Cuevas deposit became the "source" of variscite for the NW of the Iberian peninsula.

Size: 4.5 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm.
Found in ±1980's

Very esthetic good size specimen of native silver from Imiter. Interesting for its quality, brightness and because it is not acidified, as is usual in many specimens of this type. It is formed by numerous wire and filiform aggregates of native silver, in a loop, with a slightly bronze color and accompanied by metallic gray acanthite. An excellent piece that shows us the silver of Imiter in its most natural state.

Size: 8.3 x 5.5 x 3.2 cm.
Found in 2007.

Classic locality

Novelty obtained on my last trip to Morocco (02/2018). These are brilliant aggregates of gold formed by numerous crystals rich in faces, curved faces and disposed on a matrix of quartz. The SEM-EDS analyzes show that this gold contains a small percentage of silver (<1% weight). They are accompanied by fibrous aggregates of malachite and gray bornite crystals. This specimen stands out for the contrast between the brilliant gold and the green/gray matrix. An exceptional piece. Bleida is a mine located on the eastern rim of the Bou Azzer district.

Size: 4.8 x 4.0 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 2 mm.
Found in 01/2018

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 6.6 x 3.2 x 2.7 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm.

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 6.3 x 4.4 x 1.5 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm.

Group of calcite crystals, defined, transparent and brilliant, with a developed prism and negative rhombohedron top terminal faces. On a matrix of barite and calcite. They were collected in a  from open-air mining works in the area of Duyos. Nowadays, these samples from this Asturian mine are very difficult to obtain. They come from the former Manchion collection (with label).

Size: 4.9 x 3.0 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 x 0.4 cm.
Found in 01/1984.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona) - No.63 (J. Viñals).
Calcite is fluorescent under LW-UV.

This octahedral green fluorite is perched on a druse of quartz, with window forms. It shows defined faces and slightly curved edges. Color is intense with transparence. On a matrix of feldspar. This is from a small tungsten mine that was worked intermittently in the past including by the Russian government as a source for tungsten back in the 1980s. Few good minerals came out, and fewer still in this size and quality.Fluorescent under LW-UV.

Size: 5.7 x 4.8 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 24 x 22 mm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

An aesthetic royal-blue cavansite group of sharp crystals, perched atop stilbite-covered basalt matrix on this fine and showy piece from the Wagholi Quarry of India.

Size: 7.0 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 18 x 14 mm aggreg.

Group of huge size orthoclase crystals, showing the complex faces. Nice slightly orange color and defined edges and faces. It was collected many years ago near of the Montseny massif; this area was well known for orthoclase mineral collectors. A classic from a classic Catalan collection.

Size: 6.5 x 5.4 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 40 x 27 mm.

Excol. Misser (Llinars del Vallès)

Baryte specimens from this Maghrebian locality are very unusual. They appear labeled as Irhoud and there is a discussion about the locality. These are aggregates of tabular lanceolate baryte crystals those form beautiful rosettes, very aerial disposed, with inclusions those give them these reddish tones. On a matrix with quartz. A rarity.
Echemaïa (Arabic: الشماعية) is a city of Morocco, located in the region of Marrakech-Safi between the city of Safi and Marrakech. Formerly called "Al Kasba" it was renamed "Chemaïa" (literally: "La Chandelière") since the establishment of one of the largest candle factories in the region.

Size: 9.5 x 7.0 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 25 mm.
Found in 1970's.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona) - No. 325 (1987)

An aesthetic specimen consisting of bladed, cream colored baryte crystals in parallel growth forming semi-rosettes book shaped, with a tiny bit of associated purple fluorite. With two minor From the collection of the long time, Josep Maria Manchion. 

Size: 8.6 x 6.6 x 4.5 cm.
Found in 1984

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona) - No.100 (J. Viñals, 1984)

It is a very old specimen formed by prismatic to tabular crystals of celestine, with a radial disposition and filling a cavity in calcite. The matrix is a fossil coral. Fluorescent under LW-UV light. Good size. A classic of the Catalan mineralogy of old times...

Size: 12.0 x 10.0 x 6.5 cm.
Main crystal: 30 x 2 mm.
Found in 1983.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona) - No. 55
Fluorescent under long wave UV