Rosell Minerales

In this sample we can observe a large group of prismatic crystals, acicular, bright, with a dark violet to lavender color. The original description of this piece referred to a mineral from the amphibole supergroup called "crossite". This species is currently discredited and it is an intermediate between riebeckite and glaucophane groups. The specimens from this Austrian locality are very characteristic.

Size: 5 x 3.5 x 2.3 cm.

Epidote specimens from this area of Mont-Blanc are not at all common. This specimen was purchased by Joan Astor in Chamonix. It is an idiomorphic crystal, of a good size, with well-defined faces, except for one in the upper part that is fractured. We can also observe growth fissures. This specimen has its history since it was acquired from Francesc Garcia, one of the referents of Catalan mountaineering.

Size: 4 x 2.8 x 1.3 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

In this specimen we can observe a group of celestine crystals with a highly developed prism and small but well defined terminal faces. They are transparent, which allows us to observe a marked color zoning with honeyed tones in the lower middle part and colorless in the upper part. They are disposed on a matrix with sulphur. This specimen belongs from the former Joan Astor collection and we will send the handwritten label to the buyer.

Abstract from Gradowski et al. (1992): "Sulphur deposits being surface mined in the Tarnobrzeg area of Poland formed post-depositionally in the vuggy limestone layer above gypsum and anhydrite beds. Sulphur was deposited mostly as powder but also as coarsely crystalline masses and as free-growing crystals. Other materials present in the sulphur-bearing horizon include calcite, gypsum, quartz, aluminum oxide, celestine, and barite. Mineral specimens of these minerals collected at the mine are described."
Gradowski, J. and Kubiak, W.W. (1992) The Machow Mine, Tarnobrzeg, Poland. The Mineralogical Record: 23(1): 29-32.

Size: 4 x 3.9 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Prismatic crystal of elbaite, with an intense green color, which shows a lighter green color on the upper flat face of the pinacoid when light passes through it. It is accompanied by clevelandite crystals. It comes from the Trigo collection.

Size: 2.3 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm.
Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm.

Col. Trigo (Mataró, Catalunya)

Elbaite specimen of very good size and thickness, showing us the prisms with vertical striations and well-defined terminal faces. Highlights the brightness and a more intense green color at the top and lighter at the base. A gem from Minas Gerais. It belongs from the Trigo collection.

Size: 4.9 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. Trigo (Mataró, Catalunya)

Rich group of velvety globular aggregates of rosasite formed by very fine needles, with a color between blue to light blue. They are accompanied by partially corroded crystals of transparent calcite and contrast in a very aesthetic way in a cavity of the goethite matrix. This specimen belongs from the former Joan Astor collection whose handwritten label we will send to the buyer.

Size: 4.4 x 3.5 x 3.3 cm.
Found in ±1992.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

The Corta Brunita (open pit), in Murcia, is a classic of Spanish mining and mineralogy. This sample shows various globular aggregates of cronstedtite, formed by small crystals with triangular terminal faces. They are disposed on a matrix with smithsonite.

Size: 9.4 x 5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 14 mm. glob. agr.
Found in ±2015.

Col. M. Marí - A. García (Castelló)

Near the coast of the Catalan city of Barcelona is emplaced this historical and geologically very interesting promontory such as the Montjuïc mountain. The sample we propose is a xylopal (opal wood) in which we can observe structures of the original wood. These specimens are already as historic as the mountain from which they belong...

Size: 8.4 x 4.3 x 2.7 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

The classic and Mexican Ojuela mine never ceases to amaze us. In this specimen we can enjoy a vug in the limonite matrix completely upholstered by aggregates of arsendescloizite crystals, with a slightly yellowish green color, on which numerous acicular aggregates of green malachite crystals have grown. On the label, they were described as conichalcite, but analysis indicates that it is this copper carbonate. Also accompanied and partially covered by calcite crystals, very transparent and bright, partially corroded naturally. A very aesthetic and unusual specimen for this mine.

Size: 8.8 x 6.8 x 6.4 cm.
Found in ±2020.

Classic locality

Very good specimen of galena formed by a large group of crystals with complex shapes and a visible spinel twin. They are disposed on a small matrix.

 

Size: 5.6 x 5 x 4.3 cm.
Main crystal: 3.5 cm.

Specimen of harmotome from a nowadays inactive Finnish lead mine: Korsnäs. On a matrix covered by very brilliant and well defined fluorapophyllite-(K) crystals with a greenish yellow color, we can observe some groups of aesthetic harmotome crystals, well faceted and interpenetrated among them. They show a pearly luster. Nowadays, these specimens are difficult to get.

Size: 8.5 x 6.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 9 mm.
Found in ±1977.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

This specimen is a fine sample of harmotome from the Bellsgrove quarry in Scotland, a locality that has produced excellent pieces of this zeolite. On a calcite matrix with honey to greenish tones, several richly faceted crystals of harmotome are disposed. Between transparent and translucent, and of a remarkable size for the species. Exploitation of a notable baryte vein (Strontian Main) destroyed the Middleshop mines and was renamed as Strontian Barytes Mine, now called as Bellsgrove Quarry. It is accompanied by the seller's label.

 

Size: 8 x 4.7 x 4.7 cm
Main crystal: 10 mm.

Ex. Erich Laskowski col.

Specimens of magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino were well known decades ago, but today it is not easy to find them, and even less with the quality of this specimen that we propose. It is a druse of very bright octahedral crystals with an intense black colour that are disposed on the rocky matrix.

Size: 8.9 x 5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.

Specimens of magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino were well known decades ago, but today it is not easy to find them, and even less with the quality of this specimen that we propose. It is a druse of very bright octahedral crystals with an intense black colour that are disposed on the rocky matrix.

 

Size: 7.8 x 6.8 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.

Very curious specimen of agate from this classic Argentine locality that shows us the characteristic botryoidal shapes that have been slightly polished to show us the beauty of this semiprecious stone. This specimen belongs from the Trigo collection (Mataró) and was acquired at the Mineralexpo Barcelona-Sants mineral show, in Barcelona, decades ago.

Size: 5.2 x 4.8 x 2.3 cm.
Found in ±2007.

Col. Trigo (Mataró, Catalunya)

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 9.8 x 9.5 x 4.4 cm.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 9.6 x 7 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 7.8 x 6.4 x 2.1 cm.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 6.8 x 5.3 x 1.9 cm.

These prehnite specimens are a novelty from the Mineralexpo Barcelona-Sants 2022 mineral show. They show rich groups formed by sheaf aggregates of crystals, very brilliant, translucent and with a very uniform green color. Sometimes they are accompanied by small acicular crystals of actinolite. They belong from a Moroccan locality near Boulemane.

Size: 8.9 x 6.6 x 5.2 cm.
Found in 02/2022.

These prehnite specimens are a novelty from the Mineralexpo Barcelona-Sants 2022 mineral show. They show rich groups formed by sheaf aggregates of crystals, very brilliant, translucent and with a very uniform green color. Sometimes they are accompanied by small acicular crystals of actinolite. They belong from a Moroccan locality near Boulemane.

 

Size: 9.2 x 5.8 x 4.5 cm.
Found in 02/2022.

These prehnite specimens are a novelty from the Mineralexpo Barcelona-Sants 2022 mineral show. They show rich groups formed by sheaf aggregates of crystals, very brilliant, translucent and with a very uniform green color. Sometimes they are accompanied by small acicular crystals of actinolite. They belong from a Moroccan locality near Boulemane.

 

Size: 8.5 x 5 x 4.7 cm.
Found in 02/2022.

These prehnite specimens are a novelty from the Mineralexpo Barcelona-Sants 2022 mineral show. They show rich groups formed by sheaf aggregates of crystals, very brilliant, translucent and with a very uniform green color. Sometimes they are accompanied by small acicular crystals of actinolite. They belong from a Moroccan locality near Boulemane.

Size: 7.3 x 5.5 x 4.7 cm.
Found in 02/2022.

Although it is a massive specimen, we can see the pyrrhotite with bronze luster with inclusions of black magnetite. It is not a very common species for the locality. It belongs from the Astor collection. For Spanish locality collectors.

Size: 5 x 4.2 x 3 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Very good sized specimen of cyclically twinned aragonite. It belongs from the Manchion collection, with the classic label.

Size: 6 x 5.2 x 5.2 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).