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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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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).

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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.

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.

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 label.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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The uvarovite specimens from the Jeffrey are not at all common. This specimen from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona, Catalunya) dates from the 70s, when some specimens were collected. Small but brilliant and transparent crystals of this garnet, extreme with chromium of the grosularia-uvarovite series.

A very ancient specimen showing a quartz matrix with carbonates and pyrite crystals. Covered with thin boulangerite needle-like crystals. Very brilliant and dotted with calcite or dolomite colourless rombohedrons. The original handwritten label of the Astor collection, dated in 1978, indicates it comes from Concepción del Oro, but we believe we can say it is from the Mazapil area, a locality very close to Concepción. In those years, geographical themes were not so determined. Adquired in a very "old mineral shop" in Plaça Reial square, Barcelona.

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Colorless, vitreous and brilliant phacolite crystals covering the volcanic rock matrix. Phacolite is a variety of chabazite, with a pseudohexagonal lenticular shape, due to the twinning of several rhombohedrons. A very nice miniature from the former Trigo collection, from Mataró (Catalonia), with its handwritten label.

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On this classic matrix from Pedrera Berta (quarry), with quartz, fluorite, pyrolusite... we can observe some cavities in which some small but brilliant rhombohedral smithsonite crystals stand out, with a golden color. Viewed under magnification they are really aesthetic to take a "microphoto". They are accompanied by malachite aggregates. Collected by the well-known Catalan mineral collector Manuel Moreno "Manolo" and from the Joan Astor collection, with labels.

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A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

Groups of octaedral magnetite crystals, some in staggered growth, with an excellent luster, very well defined faces and edges. They are disposed on a matrix of microcline crystals.

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Probably čechite specimens from the "Rasa de l'Alzina" open pit works could be considered between the best crystals for the species worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and developed pinacoidal faces. They are disposed on a fluorite matrix. This finding is close to the Maria Magdalena mine, near of the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia).
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the čechite crystal surface we found copper content, but inside the crystal is near to pure  PbFe2+(VO4)(OH), with minor Zn(II). In most specimens from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free.

Group of quartz crystals, of the amethyst variety, the main one is very elongated. Very transparent, with defined faces and edges, and with a delicate and uniform purple color. From the former Trigo collection, from Mataró (Catalonia), with its handwritten label.

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Rich specimen of parasymplesite from this classic Mexican mine. Several divergent aggregates of prismatic to tabular parasymplesite crystals, with a light green color on the surface and a very dark green, almost black, color inside. They are disposed on a goethite matrix with cavities layered by small honey-colored arseniosiderite crystals and adamite. This specimen belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

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An old piece, showing prismatic cerussite crystals, of a snowy white color and brilliance. Striated faces of the prism and disposed by the matrix. Fluorescent under LW-UV light. The specimens of this classic Catalan mine located in the Vall de Ribes, Catalan Pyrenees, are impossible to find on the mine (almost disappeared) and are only seen in collections from years ago. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label, collected by himself on 1978, october.

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