Rosell Minerales

In this specimen we can observe brilliant aggregates of brown transparent römerite crystals, a very rare iron sulphate. They are accompanied by coquimbite showing an intense violet color under fluorescent light or LED type. They're accompanied by yellow metavoltine/copiapite crystals, along with minor fibrous halotrichite. Note that under the magnifying glass we can navigate in a world of brilliant crystals, some of which of krausite species (yellowish to grey transparent). We left this identification pleasure to the collector. Regarding its environmental stability, this sample has been stored during more than eight years without further alteration.

Size: 6.1 x 5.5 x 4.6 cm.
Found in 03/2010.

This is an exceptional sulphur specimen, both for this Russian mine and for the perfection of the crystals. In a cavity of the matrix several very well defined and doubly terminated crystals of sulphur are disposed, clearly showing the dipyramidal faces of different orders. With brilliance, translucent to transparent. With another group of crystals, one of them predominant, on sample side. On a matrix with scalenohedral calcite crystals. Specimens of this mine and with this fine quality are more than difficult to see. A sample from the Astor collection (Barcelona). You can find more information about this locality at geo.web.ru.

Size: 6.6 x 6.5 x 5.2 cm.
Main crystal: 1.4 cm.
Found in ±1998

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Very rich specimen formed by several white (transparent) acicular crystals of picropharmacolite and pharmacolite, accompanied by velvety pinkish Mg-rich erythrite-hörnesite mixed with them. Some sinfeldite crystal aggregates are present. On matrix. Collected in Bou Azer mine in february 2018. Analyzed by SEM-EDS.

Size: 9 x 4.4 x 4.1 cm.
Found in 02/2018.

Classic locality

Gypsum crystals from Piła are extremely rare in the mineral market. In this old specimen we have two twinned crystals with stacking very characteristic of the Polish deposit. Transparent, brilliant and defined. They present some small dent due to the softness of the species, without affecting the beauty and interest of the piece. With handwritten label.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2.9 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ±1989.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

In this sample we can observe bright and aesthetic aggregates of lanceolated foliaceous hydromagnesite crystals, forming rosettes, of an intense white color, although they are colorless. All of them are arranged on a rock matrix. A Catalan piece that is difficult to find today, with rare species and with quality. Collected by Joan Astor in march, 1976.

Size: 6.2 x 4 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1976.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

A well-balanced spray of doubly terminated amethyst crystals from the famous Guerrero locality. An aesthetic cluster of colored amethyst crystals, representing fine color from this deposit, in crystals which are still gemmy and translucent. Small nicks on terminal faces, only visible under magnification. Not easy to find nowadays. Ex. Trigo collection.

Size: 7.9 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1993.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

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 good size hyaline quartz crystal that shows an interior "ghost" that follows the geometry of the main one. Greenish in tone, probably due to a member of the mica group, fuchsite. These specimens are rare to see today.

Size: 5.7 x 2.2 x 1.6 cm.
Found in ±1985.

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

Group of doubly terminated quartz crystals, with developed prisms and defined terminal faces, translucent. With interesting parallel growths. These specimens were collected in this A Coruña quarry that exploits quartz, one of the main mines in the world due to the quality and quantity of its reserves. The mine was discovered in 1968 by three Galicians who gave their name (from their surnames SEñarís, RAma and BALboa) to the concession and who found it while exploring these mountains in the Pico Sacro area in search of "seixo" (from the Galician: hard white rock) of good quality.

Size: 10.2 x 3.6 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ±2017.

Group of doubly terminated quartz crystals, with developed prisms and defined terminal faces, translucent. With interesting parallel growths. These specimens were collected in this A Coruña quarry that exploits quartz, one of the main mines in the world due to the quality and quantity of its reserves. The mine was discovered in 1968 by three Galicians who gave their name (from their surnames SEñarís, RAma and BALboa) to the concession and who found it while exploring these mountains in the Pico Sacro area in search of "seixo" (from the Galician: hard white rock) of good quality.

Size: 7.8 x 4.3 x 3.7 cm.
Found in ±2017.

Aggregates of brilliant and transparent baryte crystals, with a slightly yellow tone. They are accompanied by small crystals of sphalerite, with complex forms, and galena. It comes from the Mines d'Osor, currently closed and from which it is impossible to obtain these specimens. The mine closed in 1979 and had eleven levels, with a 290 meter deep shaft. You can still see the ruins of the old facilities and the well from which sphalerite, galena and fluorite were extracted and treated.

Size: 8.6 x 5.4 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. L. Daunis (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Group of ferberite crystals of very good size, exceptional luster and well defined faces and edges. From this classic Portuguese mine. It belongs to the Arguijo collection.

Size: 7 x 5.3 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 6.5 x 4.6 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. L. Arguijo, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.

Scholzite is a rare calcium zinc phosphate, with a type locality in Germany, although the richest and most aesthetic specimens have been found in this Australian mine. This sample shows us, on both sides, numerous aggregates of prismatic crystals, almost acicular, transparent and brilliant. They are accompanied by globular aggregates of chalcophanite (analyzed by SEM-EDS).

Size: 6.6 x 6 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Analyzed specimen with report

Scholzite is a rare calcium zinc phosphate, with a type locality in Germany, although the richest and most aesthetic specimens have been found in this Australian mine. This sample shows us, on both sides, numerous aggregates of prismatic crystals, almost acicular, transparent and brilliant. They are accompanied by globular aggregates of chalcophanite (analyzed by SEM-EDS).

Size: 8.8 x 5.8 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Analyzed specimen with report

Specimen formed by aggregates of radial aragonite crystals, with very aesthetic bands of delicate blue color. This old specimen (1980s) is labeled as collected in Peñamellera, Asturies (Spain). Other specimens like this and from the same years where labelled as collected in this Asturian locality. A curiosity from the former Joan Astor collection (Barcelona). With original labelled box.

Size: 6 x 5.5 x 4.7 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of analcime crystals, faceted and translucent to transparent. They are disposed on a rocky matrix partially covered by small prismatic prehnite crystals. From a currently restored quarry.

Size: 7.7 x 6.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ±2017.

Vivianite specimens from Cameroon are a worldwide classic. This swampy lake basin contains clays in which aggregates of vivianite crystals were found. Some of them reach more than 2 meters in diameter, with individual crystals up to 1.35 meters. Nowadays not easy to find in the mineral market. This specimen is over 40 years old and remains stable. With deep green reflections. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 8.2 x 3.4 x 1.8 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.
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

In this specimen we can observe cookeite in pink tones. It is associated with eucryptite, a rare lithium aluminosilicate, and quartz. Eucriptite-quartz pseudomorphs were first discovered at this Australian mine in 1963, they are pale pink and, more rarely, dark glassy brown in color, and fluoresce reddish under shortwave ultraviolet light. Eucryptite is in the area indicated by the arrow.

Size: 6.4 x 4 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1978.

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

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.