In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 4.5 x 3.1 x 2.5 cm.
Found in 1998.

Classic locality

This old specimen belongs from the classic Atrevida mine, in the south of Catalonia. It is a botryoidal concretion of aragonite with a slight greenish blue hue. Nowadays is strictly forbiden collect minerals in this Natural Park. From the Manchion collection (Barcelona), with handwritten label of Soler i Pujol old label.

Size: 6.1 x 4.2 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Classic locality

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.

Size: 5 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm.
Found in ±2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

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.

Size: 8.8 x 4 x 3.4 cm.
Found in 2018.

These specimens were found in a outcrop close to Maria Magdalena mine, close to the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia). Probably, these crystals are the most defined crystals of Čechite worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and pinacoidal faces. Disposed very aerial on a fluorite matrix.
Čechite is very rare lead iron vanadate that is only found in a few places in the world and it is the first citation in the Iberian peninsula.
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the crystal surface there is Cu²⁺ has been formed but the crystal is pure PbFe²⁺(VO₄)(OH). In most specimens (all) from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free. We will send more details to the buyer.

Size: 4 x 2 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1 mm.

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.7 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

In this specimen we can observe very aerial growths of skeletal native silver, accompanied by acanthite. Intense luster. These specimens come from the findings of the last years of the XXth century, being today very difficult to find them in the market and less with this quality.

Size: 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

In this aesthetic specimen we can enjoy numerous groups of silver filiform crystals with skeletal growths, brilliant and of a bronze tone. They are accompanied by some acanthite crystals. These pieces come from a classic locality of the Catalan mineralogy such as the Balcoll mine. On a matrix with calcite. Almost impossible to get today and less with this quality.

Size: 3.5 x 3.3 x 3.0 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 4 x 3 x 2.4 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

In this specimen we can observe numerous skeletal growths of native silver, accompanied by octahedral crystals (with some cube faces) of acanthite and, very interesting, several cube octahedral galena crystals. These specimens come from the findings of the last years of the XXth century, being today very difficult to find them in the market and less with this quality.

Size: 4.6 x 4.0 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

Acanthite in the specimens of the Balcoll mine, usually appears in small crystals. In this piece there are several groups of acanthite crystals of good size, showing facets of the cube and the octahedron, some of them have grown on skeletal aggregates of native silver. Very interesting for the species and for this classic Catalan locality. These specimens come from the findings of the last years of XXth century, being today very difficult to find them in the market and less with this quality.

Size: 6.8 x 3.8 x 2.4 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.
Found in ±1998.

Classic locality

Nowadays galena specimens from this Catalan mine are very difficult to be found. This piece of good size is formed by a compact group of galena crystals, with dominant octahedral faces very visible, together with some of the cube. It shows fissures due to the own tensions of the specimen, but that do not affect (they even add interest) to the sample. It is accompanied by dolomite and calcite. A Spanish classic from a classic collection.

Size: 11.5 x 6.5 x 5.0 cm.
Main crystal: 7.3 x 4.2 cm.

Col. Jordi Povill No. 2016
Classic locality

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 5.0 x 3.2 x 2.0 cm.
Found in 1998.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona)
Classic locality

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...

Size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.0 cm.
Found in 1998.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona)
Classic locality

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.

Size: 5.5 x 4.2 x 2.4 cm.
Found in 2016-2017.

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.

Size: 7.0 x 4.5 x 2.7 cm.
Found in 2016-2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver. They show skeletal growth, with an metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection.

Size: 5.0 x 4.3 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ± 1999.

Analyzed specimen with report

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver formed by small but brilliant crystals. They show skeletal and arborescent growth, with an excellent metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates but some of them very brilliant, curious. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Last specimens.

Size: 4.0 x 3.0 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ± 1999.

Analyzed specimen with report

This specimen is from my old field trips to the El Molar (Tarragona) area. In this sample we combine rhodonite (more granular appearance, crystalline) with pyroxmangite (more compact appearance). Accompanied by black veins of todorokite. The tephroite, scarce, appears as patches of brownish tone in the manganese oxydes. These differentiations rhodonite-pyroxmangite are indicative, both minerals usually appear mixed.

It is an old mine we call generically as Serrana mine, although in fact there are two different mines, with two separate dumps, one corresponding to the actual Serrana mine (with horizontal works), while the other (closest to the river and with vertical works) would be known as Manganese mine.

Size: 6.8 x 5.5 x 5.0 cm.
Found in 1980's

Ex. col. Joan Rosell.

This specimen is from my old field trips to the El Molar (Tarragona) area. In this sample we combine rhodonite (more granular appearance, crystalline) with pyroxmangite (more compact appearance). Accompanied by black veins of todorokite. The tephroite, scarce, appears as patches of brownish tone. These differentiations rhodonite-pyroxmangite are indicative, both minerals usually appear mixed.

It is an old mine we call generically as Serrana mine, although in fact there are two different mines, with two separate dumps, one corresponding to the actual Serrana mine (with horizontal works), while the other (closest to the river and with vertical works) would be known as Manganese mine.

 

Size: 5.2 x 4.8 x 3.7 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Ex. col. Joan Rosell.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a large group of silver crystals and filaments, forming spongy and skeletal growths. Good luster and a slightly tan tone. Stresses this specimen by several factors. One is its size and weight (on 40 g. or 1.4 oz.). Another is the abundance of this noble metal and perhaps the most interesting is that it is not an acidified sample. This is a plate obtained from a natural fissure in the host rock, with a lenticular and flattened structure. A very different piece from this classic Catalan locality.

Size: 7.8 x 4.0 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ± 1999.

This specimen shows one way how silver occurs in Balcoll mine. We note that into the fissures in the limestone have grown numerous skeletal aggregates formed by silver crystals showing well defined forms of the octahedron. Good luster and a bronze patina tone. Accompanied by groups of cubic crystals of acanthite with staggered growths and deep black color. A very representative sample from a classic locality for the Catalan mineralogy.

Size: 5.5 x 3.3 x 1.7 cm.
Found in ± 1999.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by several groups of cubic silver crystals with a skeletal shape. They show defined octahedral and cubic faces. The color varies from white to bronze. Accompanied by acanthite aggregates with a darker color. These specimens come from a classic Catalan locality for the species.

Size: 5.5 x 3.8 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3 x 1 mm. aggreg.
Found in ± 1999.

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver formed by small but brilliant crystals. They show skeletal and arborescent growth, with an excellent metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection.

Size: 6.7 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2 x 0,4 mm. aggreg.
Found in ± 1999.

A very rich specimen of silver from a classic locality for the Catalan mineralogy. In this sample we could enjoy several groups of very sharp brilliant skeletal silver crystals. They are accompanied by acanthite aggregates of darker color. The specimen has been acidified with care since usually silver specimens become dark, but in this case, and looking at the date of collection, we can foresee a long stability. The label indicates that this material was mined in 1905, but the specimen was collected in 1998.

 

Size: 5,5 x 5,5 x 4,2 cm.
Main crystal: 4 x 1 mm.
Found in 1998.