This specimen of menilite opal is very characteristic of this Granada locality. We can see different rounded figures, dolls, or ninots (in Catalan), which have adhered to each other to form a single piece. A curiosity of Spanish mineralogy.

This specimen of menilite opal is very characteristic of this Granada locality. We can see different rounded figures, dolls, or ninots (in Catalan), which have adhered to each other to form a single piece. A curiosity of Spanish mineralogy.

An old Spanish specimen pyromorphite formed by numerous crystals, with hexagonal prism shape and a very characteristic yellowish-green colour. The luster is very good. These specimens are difficult to see in the market. It is accompanied by a handwritten label in German.

120 €

Buy

A specimen composed of several good-sized microcline crystals with well-defined faces and edges, accompanied by white albite crystals. A group of smoky quartz crystals with good luster and transparency stands out at the top. This specimen comes from the collection of Peter Seroka (Potsdam, 1942 - L'Escala, 2020), a well-known German collector residing in Catalonia and a lover of feldspars.

Reserved

A fine specimen of cinnabar from the classic Spanish mine, Escarlati, in León. This specimen shows various aggregates of interpenetrating mercury sulfide crystals, with good color and visible octahedral shapes. They are arranged on a porous matrix that had been covered with calcite but was removed chemically. Only in this way can we enjoy these crystals. It comes from the Jaime Murria collection (Barcelona).

110 €

Buy

In this specimen, we can observe several hexagonal pyrrhotite crystals that have been completely replaced by pyrite. The luster is very good, and they stand out in a matrix formed by numerous quartz crystals. A very interesting and aesthetic pseudomorphosis.

Sold

In this specimen, we can observe several hexagonal pyrrhotite crystals that have been completely replaced by pyrite. The luster is very good, and they stand out in a matrix formed by numerous quartz crystals. With black sphalerite. A very interesting and aesthetic pseudomorphosis.

100 €

Buy

The anatase crystals from this Norwegian locality are a classic of world mineralogy. They are notable for their size. In this specimen, we see a crystal formed by a tetragonal bipyramid truncated at the vertices by pinacoids. Growth contacts and some small chips can be observed, but they do not detract from the quality of the specimen. It is disopsed very aerial on a small quartz matrix.

In this specimen, we can observe numerous rosette-shaped aggregates formed by lenticular rhodochrosite crystals, with a faint pink hue that contrasts with a matrix composed of numerous quartz and calcite crystals, some of them flattened rhombohedrons. It is accompanied by several faceted crystals of brilliant chalcopyrite. A highly aesthetic specimen from this classic Kosovo mine.

Sold

Specimen of purpurite with an intense violet colour. It is accompanied by other phosphates. In the words of Antonio Manuel Inácio Martins: -"Purpurite is lilac, triphylite is brown, rockbridgeite is green dark and stewartite is yellowed... crazy phosphates". Enjoy the sample.

50 €

Buy

Specimen of purpurite with an intense violet colour. It is accompanied by other phosphates. In the words of Antonio Manuel Inácio Martins: -"Purpurite is lilac, triphylite is brown, rockbridgeite is green dark and stewartite is yellowed... crazy phosphates". Enjoy the sample.

Sold

Specimen of purpurite with an intense violet colour. It is accompanied by other phosphates. In the words of Antonio Manuel Inácio Martins: -"Purpurite is lilac, triphylite is brown, rockbridgeite is green dark and stewartite is yellowed... crazy phosphates". Enjoy the sample.

Sold

Very good-sized specimen of rhombohedral dolomite crystals, very well defined and bright. Transparent to translucent, with greyish tones. Interpenetrated crystals. With an interesting and rare label from the former Sabadell mineral dealer "Blenda".

Sold

Rhombohedral dolomite crystal from this classic Navarra locality. It is disposed very aerial on a dolomite matrix. Three of the faces of the rhombohedron are dotted with small globules of goethite. A very aesthetic miniature.

This specimen is interesting both for the species and for the locality. These are aggregates of pseudomalachite crystals that have grown in a fissure in the matrix formed mostly by quartz, in a small outcrop located on the slope of the "Cerro Viejo", near the Maidevera reservoir.

A good-sized specimen from this Extremadura mine formed by numerous bright andradite crystals, with defined faces, and accompanied by magnetite and an orthoclase crystal. From the Soliveres collection.

Specimen formed by a druse of quartz microcrystals on which several groups of cubic fluorite crystals have grown. They have faces that are asymmetrically beveled by the dodecahedron. Its transparency allows us to see a curious geometric zoning of color. The specimen comes from the J. Vilalta collection and the A. Soliveres collection. From a mine from which it is difficult to find pieces.

110 €

Buy

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Excol. A. Pouget, Excol Joan Rosell. The piece has a treatment that has kept it intact until today.
Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.
Entraigas (Antraigas), Rodés, Avairon, Occitània, Entraigas, Rodés, Avairon, Occitània, França

Sold

Sylvite crystalline aggregate, colorless, transparent and shiny. Specimens of such pure sylvite are not easy to find. This comes from the potassium salt works of the Catalonia basin. Analyzed samples.

Sold

Sylvite crystalline aggregate, colorless, transparent and shiny. Specimens of such pure sylvite are not easy to find. This comes from the potassium salt works of the Catalonia basin. Analyzed samples.

50 €

Buy

Sheet of palygorskite, fibrous, laminated, delicate and at the same time resistant, silky and soft, like no other mineral species. It comes from the Magaña area, in Soria, and was acquired by Emili Nicolau from Joan Viñals in 1999. A Spanish curiosity.

Sold

Aggregates of greenish-yellow autunite crystals along with sheets of creamy yellow sabugalite. A classic of radioactive minerals from Spain. With Manuel de Torres label.

Sold

In this specimen we can observe white massive-crystalline aggregates of picromerite K₂Mg(SO₄)₂·6H₂O, along with colourless halite, with iron oxides that give red colors. This is old material so nowadays, it is very difficult to find. Comes from the Nicolau collection (Barcelona).

The specimens that we often see on the market as sylvite or carnallite are usually halite with inclusions of iron minerals. In this case, the specimen has been analyzed indicating that it is mainly sylvite (KCl) with some halite (NaCl) included. The red color is due to inclusions of iron oxydes (hematite). Although it is a salt long exploited in these mines in the Catalan potassium basin, it is a mineral that is sometimes missing from collections.