This specimen is a sample extracted from the mercury deposits of the Guelma area in Algeria, most likely before the mid-1950s. The accompanying handwritten label indicates that it comes from the Guelma area and from the collection of Jean Chervet (1904-1962). Chervet, whose name identifies the mineral chervetite, was a French mineralogist and collector, and director of the Mineralogy Service of the Atomic Energy Commission in France since 1948.
It is a compact piece of cinnabar, with red powdery crusts and small crystals. It is accompanied by colorless crystals of cerussite and yellow powdery 'bindheimite' (analyzed by SEM-EDS). Probably from Djebel Taya mercury mines. An interesting specimen as a species, provenance, and collection.

190 €

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The titanite crystals from this Malagasy locality are largely unknown to collectors. They are a group of very good-sized crystals with defined faces and a brownish color, set within a matrix of calcite, scapolite, and diopside. A very interesting specimen, both for its location and for the unusual size and shape of the titanite. It was identified as coming from Fort Dauphin. The Amboasary district is famous for its numerous deposits of thorianite and phlogopite.

190 €

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A very fine specimen consisting of a druse of arsenical vanadinite crystals from this classic Mexican locality. These are barrel-shaped crystals with pointed ends and a remarkable luster. The chocolate brown color is very uniform. Nowadays, these specimens are rare to see.

Aggregate of brown sphalerite crystals nestled in a matrix of dolomite crystals. When light passes through them, they reveal that characteristic honey-brown hue.

A group of complex, interpenetrating sphalerite crystals with dodecahedron faces. The specimen is translucent, allowing light to shine through it, revealing the orange luminosity that makes these specimens prized by collectors.

A very interesting and striking specimen of scepter quartz, transparent and combining a smoky hue with an amethyst coloured zone. It features phantom-like top faces... A true curiosity from the Urals.

The celestine specimens from the Torà and Ivorra regions are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They have been found in different areas of both municipalities. This specimen comes from test pits taken near Torà, on slopes that are now covered and prohibited for searching due to the destruction caused by some prospectors in the past. Pointed prismatic crystals, slightly bluish-gray in color, are found in cavities lined with calcite, in a carbonate marl matrix.

The celestine specimens from the Torà and Ivorra regions are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They have been found in different areas of both municipalities. This specimen comes from test pits taken near Torà, on slopes that are now covered and prohibited for searching due to the destruction caused by some prospectors in the past. Pointed prismatic crystals, slightly bluish-gray in color, are found in cavities lined with calcite, in a carbonate marl matrix.

Exceptional quartz specimen, with elongated prisms forming divergent, transparent to translucent aggregates. It has a slightly reddish hue due to the presence of hematite speckles the crystals. It is accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and chalcopyrite. A display specimen from this classic Peruvian locality.

470 €

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A very good-sized fluorite specimen formed by several cubic crystals, growing in parallel and in staggered forms. Its faces show polysynthetic growths and its edges are beveled by the dodecahedron. It is transparent and brilliant. The internal color is slightly violet, depending on the light, but the fluorite is colorless, as is typical at this Asturian deposit. It is accompanied by several good-sized prismatic barite crystals, interspersed with small chalcopyrite crystals. A very aesthetic specimen.

260 €

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Druse of dioptase crystals, with very defined faces and edges, brilliant, transparent, and disposed on a quartz rocky matrix. The color is very distinctive, difficult to reproduce in photography. They are accompanied by small aggregates of malachite crystals, with a different green. A piece of good size and quality.

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Druse of dioptase crystals, with very defined faces and edges, brilliant, transparent, and disposed on a quartz rocky matrix. The color is very distinctive, difficult to reproduce in photography. They are accompanied by small aggregates of malachite crystals, with a different green. A piece of good size and quality.

400 €

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Malachite specimens from this Upper Katanga mine are notable for radial aggregates of fine crystals that, taken together, have a velvety appearance and excellent brilliance. Intense green colour, good size and fine aesthetics.

An amazing specimen of andradite, a variety of melanite, formed by numerous, well-defined idiomorphic crystals, with dodecahedron faces truncated by trapezohedron faces. They are lustrous and exhibit greenish reflections and transparencies when light hits them. They are arranged in a highly contrasting manner on a light-colored matrix.

240 €

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A very aesthetic specimen of andradite, a variety of melanite, formed by numerous, well-defined, idiomorphic crystals, with the dodecahedron faces truncated by the trapezohedron ones. They are lustrous and shows greenish reflections and transparencies when light hits them. They are on both sides of the sample, with numerous elongated, prismatic crystals of green pargasite, one of the first historically described amphiboles.

170 €

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A very aesthetic specimen of andradite, a variety of melanite, formed by numerous, well-defined, idiomorphic crystals, with the dodecahedron faces truncated by the trapezohedron ones. They are lustrous and shows greenish reflections and transparencies when light hits them. They are disposed in a very aerial way on a matrix formed by numerous elongated, prismatic crystals of green pargasite, one of the first historically described amphiboles.

170 €

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A group of cubic fluorite crystals, ranging in color from purple to violet depending on the incident light. Well-defined faces and edges, luster, and transparency. On the back, they are partially covered with quartz microcrystals.

Monazite crystals from Madagascar are world-famous, with many representative localities. This specimen we offer is accompanied by a Deyrolle (Paris) label. The Deyrolle company began its business in 1831, led by Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle, with the production and sale of materials related to the natural sciences. This specimen is accompanied by a label handwritten on both sides. The specimen is exceptional. It consists of twinned monazite crystals, with well-defined faces and edges, lustrous, and a brown color, darker on the prisms. On one of the faces, there is a stepped growths. The size is quite remarkable. Specimens of this magnitude are not often seen...

550 €

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This specimen was thought as Bourg d'Oisans sample, although, based on its appearance and paragenesis, it is most likely one of the specimens from the La Gardette area, close to Bourg d'Oisans. It shows a rich group of very elongated, hyaline quartz crystals with the "dauphiné" habit. It is accompanied by various pyrite crystals. A highly aesthetic piece from a classic locality that should be a must-have in any collection.

220 €

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Uranium specimens from this Mexican mine located in northern Chihuahua are rare on the market. This specimen shows numerous acicular crystals of this uranyl silicate, brilliant, transparent and intensely colored. They are disposed in vugs within the calcite matrix.

A very aesthetic specimen composed of very lustrous, dark green primary malachite crystals. The crystals have a triangular to rhombohedral appearance due to the way they have intergrown and are brighter green at the edges. It is quite rare to find primary malachite crystals, especially with well-defined crystals, and this mine is known for producing these malachites. The specimen was labeled "libethenite" (sic), and of course we analyzed it (analysis RM308), although a drop of HCl would have ruled out the phosphate, but...

130 €

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Malachite specimens from this mine typically appear without matrix. This specimen shows a botryoidal aggregate of intense green color arranged very airily on a quartz matrix. Very aesthetic.

These specimens come from the type locality for kolwezite, a copper-cobalt carbonate. Most of the "kolwezite" pieces seen on the market don't have the 1:1 Cu:Co ratio required to call them that; they usually have a 2:1 Cu:Co ratio. Of all the ones I've analyzed (and there are quite a few), even the olive-green ones maintain this ratio. In this case, we can say, to be honest, they're cobalt-rich malachite specimens. Even so, the specimens are very aesthetically pleasing. If I ever find a 1:1 Cu:Co kolwezite, I'll probably find the grail...

75 €

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These specimens come from the type locality for kolwezite, a copper-cobalt carbonate. Most of the "kolwezite" pieces seen on the market don't have the 1:1 Cu:Co ratio required to call them that; they usually have a 2:1 Cu:Co ratio. Of all the ones I've analyzed (and there are quite a few), even the olive-green ones maintain this ratio. In this case, we can say, to be honest, they're cobalt-rich malachite specimens. Even so, the specimens are very aesthetically pleasing. If I ever find a 1:1 Cu:Co kolwezite, I'll probably find the grail...

110 €

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A very elegant specimen composed of parallel-growing, diverging, and pallid tabular crystals with a characteristic metallic gray color. It is accompanied by a tabular barite crystal. From this classic Romanian locality.

80 €

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