At the beginning of 2014, reviewing some specimens from the Santa Matilde open pit we found into the vugs some groups of lanceolated, fibrous or equidimensional crystals, with pink, beige to white colours, those aroused our interest. After some analysis we could identify as fluorcalcioroméite species (Ca,Na)₂Sb⁵⁺₂O₆F,OH), with a small percentage of oxyplumboroméite (Pb₂Sb₂O₇, due to the presence of lead). Both species belong to the isometric system. But the observed symmetry indicated that they are, highly probable, a pseudomorph after stibnite crystals. This is the first report of this mineral in the Iberian Peninsula. Nowadays this quarry is completelly filled by rubble.
In this specimen we can see some several aggregates in the cavity formed by lanceolated to fibrous crystals, with luster, beige tone, accompanied by aesthetic baryte crystals. We will send a copy of the analysis (SEM-EDS, XRD) to the buyer.

At the beginning of 2014, reviewing some specimens from the Santa Matilde open pit we found into the vugs some groups of lanceolated, fibrous or equidimensional crystals, with pink, beige to white colours, those aroused our interest. After some analysis we could identify as fluorcalcioroméite species (Ca,Na)₂Sb⁵⁺₂O₆F,OH), with a small percentage of oxyplumboroméite (Pb₂Sb₂O₇, due to the presence of lead). Both species belong to the isometric system. But the observed symmetry indicated that they are, highly probable, a pseudomorph after stibnite crystals. This is the first report of this mineral in the Iberian Peninsula. Nowadays this quarry is completelly filled by rubble. In this specimen we can see some aggregates, one of them predominant, formed by several lanceolated to needle-like crystals, with luster, beige to ocher tone, accompanied by aesthetic baryte crystals. We will send a copy of the analysis (SEM-EDS, XRD) to the buyer.

A floating almandine crystal with a good size for the locality. Defined faces and rounded edges (very common), with an intense brown to black color. Acompanied by a interpenetrated minor almandine crystal. A Spanish classic.

A huge size andalusite prismatic crystal, with defined faces and rounded edges. A Spanish classic that many of us have told about and we present here for you.

On a milky quartz matrix we can enjoy some cubic fluorite crystals. One notable for its size. It shows transparency and color zoning. This color zoning is very interesting because it takes the form of an octahedron with an intense violet included in a colorless cube. It is not easy to find samples of fluorite from Cerro Muriano; so even a small dent in a corner, this piece is great quality for the locality.

A curiosity that I found aesthetic and mineralogically interesting. Usually the menilite opals are found in a marlstone matrix, but in this case we found it included in gypsum with clay inclusions. A Spanish curious specimen...

A novelty in the Castelló mineral show 2014. This is a group of aragonite crystals showing very aesthetic flos ferry structures, with good brilliance and white color, slightly brownish tones at the terminal crystals. It comes from a Almerian mountains well known for its hot springs.

A novelty in the Castelló mineral show 2014. This is a group of aragonite crystals showing very aesthetic flos ferry structures, with good brilliance and white color, slightly brownish tones at the terminal crystals. It comes from a Almerian mountains well known for its hot springs.

Druse of very sharp fluorite crystals, with transparence and excellent yellow color. From a classic Spanish mine for the species.

A very rich mottramite specimen formed by a layer of minute crystals, very brilliant and with a deep olive green color, near to black on druses, visible only in isolated crystals. A really representative specimen from a classic Spanish gold mines locality.

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Although our country is rich in different forms of calcite, we want to emphasize on this specimen that shows two generations of crystal growth. The first generation calcite clusters have a good size and orange to yellowish pastel tones. With an elongated striated prism and rhombohedral terminal top forms. They are translucent and brilliant, with echeloned growths on faces.
A second generation of small, but transparent and brilliant calcite crystals, is disposed near to perpendicular on the prism of the first generation. A colored and strongly fluorescent calcite from la Cala.

Group of very sharp cerussite crystals showing a reticulated growth, like a star or a snowflake, with good brilliance. Very aerial disposed. These specimens belong to a chance finding that yielded a few specimens of this quality. From the well-known mining area of Tharsis.

Group of very sharp cerussite crystals showing a reticulated growth, like a star or a snowflake, with good brilliance. Very aerial disposed. These specimens belong to a chance finding that yielded a few specimens of this quality. From the well-known mining area of Tharsis.

Group of very sharp cerussite crystals showing a reticulated growth, like a star or a snowflake, with good brilliance. Very aerial disposed on a stalactite goethite. These specimens belong to a chance finding that yielded a few specimens of this quality. From the well-known mining area of Tharsis.

Druse of very sharp baryte crystals showing developed and striated prismatic faces, truncated by pinacoids. The crystals are translucent, and color varies between colorless to yellowish. Excellent brilliance. Similar specimens were classified, many years ago, as hokutolite (a lead-rich baryte variety) but further analysis showed that there was only a minor lead content.

A huge size native copper specimen showing an arborescent growth of deformed crystals. Some of them still show complex cubic forms. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Arborescent growth of deformed and flattened native copper crystals. Some of them, smaller ones, still show complex cubic forms. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone. It is disposed very aerial on the rocky matrix.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Arborescent growth of deformed and flattened native copper crystals. Some of them, smaller ones, still show complex cubic forms. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone. It is disposed very aerial on the rocky matrix.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Laminar growth of deformed and flattened native copper crystals. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone. It is disposed very aerial on the rocky matrix.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Arborescent growth of deformed and flattened native copper crystals. Some of them, smaller ones, still show complex cubic forms. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone. It is disposed very aerial on the rocky matrix.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Arborescent growth of deformed and flattened native copper crystals. Some of them, smaller ones, still show complex cubic forms. Its color is the original and I preferred not alter it by chemical methods. In some of the branches we can see the brilliance of copper, but the rest has this "coppery" tone. It is disposed very aerial on the rocky matrix.
Nowadays the mine is flooded, so get new specimens is quite complicate, if not impossible. A classic mineral specimen from this “Spanish pyrite belt” locality.

Group of very sharp pyrolusite tabular crystals showing polysynthetic growths, unusual for the species. Good luster, metallic gray color. The echeloned faces gives them a different aesthetics. In the matrix we can observe more classic acicular radiated pyrolusite crystals.
Few specimens were obtained and, at first, it was thought that by their shapes and color tones they were marcasite, but further analysis characterized them as pyrolusite. Probably the best pyrolusite Spanish specimens.

Group of very sharp pyromorphite crystals with a hexagonal shape and the characteristic color. The crystals fill cavities of the matrix. Mine has became a classic Spanish for pyro.

Group of hexagonal pr¡smatic crystals showing a good brilliance, characteristic color and very well defined faces and edges. From a classic Spanish mine.

Group of flattened tabular jarosite crystals, very sharp and rich in faces, with an intense luster and brown color. We would like to emphasize the transparence and the crystal size.
This sample is from the Arteal tunnel (also known as Santa Bárbara pit), today it is impossible to collect more specimens because tunnel collapsed in first months of 2011.