Rosell Minerales

Rich radial aggregates of hydroboracite crystals, colorless to white, with a very intense adamatin luster. SEM-EDS analysis show the absence of sodium, with magnesium and calcium predominant. Boron can not be observed with this spectroscopic technique. Turkey is one of the largest producers of borates in the world, with reserves that surpass those of other countries such as USA, China or Russia. The borate works are located a few miles SE of Kestelek. Spectacular fluorescence yellow for hydroboracite and orange for probertite.

Size: 8 x 5.5 x 5 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of smoky quartz crystals on a matrix of microcline crystals covered by albite. They present some nick but for me it is a very good and historical specimen. From a classic Catalan locality and from the Daunis collection (Barcelona).

Size: 10 x 9.5 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5.5 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Col. Daunis (Barcelona)
Classic locality

Celestine crystals from this locality are very appreciated by the collectors of Spanish minerals for their color, brilliance and definition of faces. This specimen shows several celestine crystals of good size, acute, with well defined faces, transparent to translucent and with a visible sky blue color. They are disposed on a matrix with calcite crystals. Nowadays it is not easy to find crystals with this size and quality from this locality.

Size: 12.4 x 8 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 26 x 11 mm.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de Montserrat, Barcelona)
Classic locality

Rich groups of radiated celestine crystals, from this Spanish classic locality. This mine is also known as Rica mine. Good size and aesthetic specimen.

Size: 6.6 x 6.4 x 5 cm.

Classic locality

Two crystals of elbaite in parallel growth. Intense color, with greenish transparence on the upper part. Striated prismatic faces with very clear terminal rhombohedrons. A little gem...

Size: 3.8 c 1.2 x 0.6 cm.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona.

Prismatic crystal of bicolored elbaite, with striated faces and defined terminal rhombohedrons with pinacoid. With white clevelandite.

Size: 3 x 1.5 x 1 cm.
Main crystal: 30 x 5 mm.

Group of hyaline quartz crystals, well developed and defined, with some curious crystals of fluorapatite, with a marked geometrical color zoning and inclusions. Theya re accompanied by brilliant pyrite crystals on muscovite and siderite.

Size: 9.5 x 8.5 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 8 mm. F-ap
Found in ±1980.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona.
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Curious specimen of a classic locality formed by numerous galena cube octahedrons. They have very defined forms, idiomorphic crystals but hollow inside. They upholster the dolomite matrix. for lovers of the curiosities from Moroccan mines. An old sample.

Size: 8.8 x 7.5 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ± 1987.

Classic locality

Specimens from this Australian mine are unusual today. In this sample we have a group of azurite crystals pseudomorphized by malachite, preserving very well defined faces and edges. They are disposed on a goethite matrix partially coated with malachite, chrysocolla and small yellow crystals of wulfenite.

Size: 8.2 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 18 x 17 mm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. Nr. 190, 1985 Expominer.

Rich cluster of smoky quartz crystals on a matrix of microcline crystals covered by albite. They present some nick but for me it is a very good and historical specimen. From a classic Catalan locality and from the Daunis collection (Barcelona).

Size: 10.5 x 8 x 6 cm.
Found in ±1970

Col. Daunis (Barcelona)
Classic locality

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

A huge size and aesthetic native copper, which shows an arborescent growths formed by copper crystals. They are partially covered by copper salt species, together with cuprite and quartz. A very displayable piece.

Size: 13.0 x 12.0 x 4.2 cm.
Found in 01/2018.

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

Very bright specimen formed by numerous hexagonal shape pyrrhotite crystals, accompanied by pyrite. A pyrite mine owned by Solmine. Closed before 1984. An old specimen from an Italian locality from where it is very difficult find specimens.

Size: 7.3 x 4.5 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 8 mm.
Found in 1990's

Col. J.M. Manchión (Barcelona) - #525, Miró, 1991

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