Almandine crystal, faceted, with forms of the dodecahedron, and rounded edges. The back side is the contact with matrix or other crystals. A classic of Spanish mineralogy, nowadays very difficult to see.

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An esthetic specimen, cubic fluorite crystalsfluorite, with beveled edges, of blue to purple tone according to the incident light. They present some nips when extracted. Disposed on a matrix of baryte crystals covered by small brilliant quartz crystals.

Very rich specimen formed by several rosettes of tabular to lenticular azurite crystals, intense color and contrasting on the matrix, with quartz. Its origin is due to the alteration of the chalcopyrite and are disposed on a silicified limestone matrix. Very good piece for the locality.

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Radial aggregates of ferro-pargasite with an intense luster and very deep green colour. Accompanied in the granatite matrix with epidote crystals and orange calcite. The ferro-pargasite of this deposit is the dominant amphibole in the granatite fissures, although it was classified as hastingsite according to data provided by the exploiting company (according to Miguel Calvo in Minerales de España, vol. IX); for this reason surely the label that accompanies this sample classifies it as hastingsite.

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Fibrous aggregate of tremolite crystals, very brilliant and with an olive green colour. They are accompanied by prismatic crystals of darker green actinolite and orange calcite. Good size and representative for the locality and the species. The Manuel-Mercedes open pit is embedded in the granitic intrusions that were accompanied by contact metamorphism and gave rise to the formation of the skarn, with important deposits of magnetite.

This sample has, for me, both a collection and scientific interest. It is a sample of cinnabar "veins" in its host rock, which has been perfectly polished to be able to see the structures of this breccia. Intense red colors of cinnabar snaking between fragments of quartzite impregnated with cinnabar, isolated crystals of pyrite and veins of dolomite. A true curiosity from Almaden to study under the magnifying glass.

This specimen shows an interesting group formed by a bluish, very bright botryodal chalcedony, which is partially covered by aggregates of calcite crystals, flattened, in axial growth, and with an excellent transparency and brightness. A worthy specimen of this near to disapeared quarry, close to the San Valentín quarry. A very aesthetic piece of this classic Murcia mining area.

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Group of fluorite crystals showing sharp edges and cube faces with polysynthetic growths. Good color, intense between purple to violet, depending on the incident light and with geometric colour zoning.

Group of fluorite crystals showing sharp edges and cube faces with polysynthetic growths. Good color, intense between purple to violet, depending on the incident light and with geometric colour zoning.

Very curious specimen formed by several cubic crystals of halite, some with hoppered growth forms, bright and translucent. A very aesthetic neoformation of these "salinas" (saltworks). Although it is believed that the Romans, in the s. I AD, they already extracted salt from the area, the saltworks of Imón were built in the 10th century and have been exploited intermittently for centuries. In 2015 they returned to production with the construction of new pools of enormous dimensions.

In the eastern part of the beach of Lapari there are the known septaria of Deba. The reef may have about 15 m, but it is not distinguished from the rest of the marly formation of the black flysch of Deba beach. The first publications on the septaria of Deba date from 1958. The upper part of the site has been totally destroyed by works, and in the part of the beach, foreign and local collectors collected numerous specimens. Currently this area has been declared of special protection within the coastal biotope Deba-Zumaia so the collection of septaria is absolutely prohibited [link]. Polished section.

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In this specimen, we observed some sulfide aggregates very characteristic of Las Cruces mine. They were partially covered with calcite and under it appear groups of very brilliant chalcocite crystals. But the most interesting part of this specimen are the small, very brilliant crystals those cover sulphides. It is an unusual species: Luzonite. Luzonite is a rare copper sulfoarsenide. I have made the relevant analysis that yields consistent results: S 35.19%, Cu 41.82%, As 22.99% (%wt). You can find more information at espiadellabo.com.

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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.

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.

Druse of small quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, partially covered by white kaolinite. Peppered by several anatase crystals, with dipyramidal faces, truncated by basal pinacoid. Very sharp, translucent and with a toasted honey tone. Very aesthetic and rare in the market.
It is interesting to say that recent analysis of the reddish ashlars of the Torre Nueva (New Tower) of the Astorga cathedral indicated that these building materials were extracted from this Cantera del Moro during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Group of sharp isolated octahedral fluorite crystals, from translucent to transparent. They show an interesting slight apple green color. They are accompanied by small quartz crystals. On a granite matrix. This matrix is classic for modern specimens and comes from low levels of the Berta quarry.

Aesthetic vanadinite specimen, really good for the locality. We can observe crowned prismatic crystals with color zonació and intense brightness. An interesting article on MR: Leon, M. and Liso, M.J. (1996): Vanadinite from the Gerty Mine Badajoz Spain. Mineralogical Record, 27(5), 381-384.

Specimen formed by small rounded crystals of smithsonite, with an intense pink color. These specimens stand out for the town and its intense color. The mine is now closed and in the process of restoration to make a part visitable.

A historical specimen of this classic mine. Various tabular baryte crystals peppered by small but brilliant and well-shaped cinnabar crystals. These specimens are very difficult to find today.

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A specimen of pyromorphite from this classic Spanish locality, in Córdoba. Several crystals with an intense green color, translucent and exceptional brilliance. Hexagonal crystals show barred shapes, truncated by the pinacoids. They are disposed upholstering the cavities of the matrix. A fine sample, acquired by Mr. Manchion to Joan Viñals, in 1991. Nowadays it is not easy to find samples from this mine. The pyromorphite from San Andrés Mine has been known from the first half of the XX century.

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Aggregate of sphalerite crystals, with complex faces and intense color when the light passes through it. Back side is recrystalized. From this classic Spanish locality.

A very nice specimen of this classic Basque mine. It shows a dolomitic matrix partially covered by brilliant sphalerite crystals, defined faces and slightly curved edges. Excellent transparence and toasted honey color. It is accompanied by some greenish siderite rhombohedral crystals and dolomite crystals. A complete and brilliant specimen from this mine. From the Manchion Collection.
Troya Mine was closed in 1993, only a few years before these specimens were collected in 1990. Nowadays the mine is collapsed and flooded. This specimen was in a former German mineral collection since then.

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Group of fluorite crystals, cubic shape, brilliance, transparence and violet colour with geometric zoning. Some of them presents minor nicks, without affecting the whole. They are accompanied by barite crystals partially covered by tiny, shiny quartz crystals.

Druse of small quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, partially covered by white kaolinite. Peppered by several anatase crystals, with dipyramidal faces, truncated by basal pinacoid. Very sharp, translucent and with a toasted honey tone. Very aesthetic and rare in the market.
It is interesting to say that recent analysis of the reddish ashlars of the Torre Nueva (New Tower) of the Astorga cathedral indicated that these building materials were extracted from this Cantera del Moro during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Group of sharp calcite crystals, with rhombohedral flattened shape, translucent. From a unusual locality not well represented in collections.

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