The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 6.7 x 3.6 x 3.4 cm.
Found in ±2000.

Classic locality

Druse of small white crystals of tacharanite (basalt-hosted zeolite) forming aggregates with approximately globular shape, coating a basalt rocky matrix. Really interesting sample and locality.

Size: 7.8 x 6.6 x 6.4 cm.
Found in ±1997.

Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Groups of intensely colored clinoclase crystals that stand out on the quartz matrix.

Size: 7.2 x 4.7 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ±2000.

Classic locality

The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 5.2 x 4.8 x 2.1 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm. aggr.
Found in ±2000.

Analyzed specimen with report

Rich groups of mixite crystals, arranged on a matrix with quartz. Joan Viñals' label indicates that it comes from the Daniel mine, in the same area as the waste dumps known as Schmiedestollen, the most famous dump in the Wittichen area, currently heavily restored. It does not belong to any real mine, but was driven to transport minerals from the nearby Alt St Joseph and Gnade Gottes mines, with which it is connected underground (see mindat), which indicates that some specimens from this dumps may belong also from this mine.

Size: 5.5 x 4.1 x 3.7 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col J. Viñals. Col. E. Nicolau (Barcelona).

Small silver skeletal aggregates, golden to bronze in color, shiny, and emerging from a mass of native arsenic. This specimen has not been acidified like many specimens we see on the market.
Shaft 371 is the main shaft of the former Aue Mining Company (formerly Object 09) of SDAG Wismut, a uranium mine in the Westerzgebirge. With a total depth of more than 1,800 m, the mine was the deepest mine in Germany until its closure (mindat).

Size: 5.3 x 4.8 x 3.2 cm.

Brilliant aggregates of small safflorite crystals, accompanied by nickelskutterudite. We can see small proustite crystals with a magnifying glass, along with cobalt and nickel arsenates. A specimen from a classic locality.
Shaft 371 is the main shaft of the former Aue Mining Company (formerly Object 09) of SDAG Wismut, a uranium mine in the Westerzgebirge. With a total depth of more than 1,800 m, the mine was the deepest mine in Germany until its closure (mindat). These type of specimens, although they are not "aesthetic", have an essential systematic and historical interest. For lovers of "gray minerals", like myself...

Size: 6.6 x 6.4 x 4 cm.

This good-sized specimen stands out for its branched nickelin growths, with its characteristic bronze color and shine. We can observe crystals in some cavities. It is covered with small safflorite crystals with a gray metallic luster. It is very interesting to observe this substitution. We can also observe well-defined crystals of nickelskutterudite, partially coated with pink cobalt arsenates.
Shaft 371 is the main shaft of the former Aue Mining Company (formerly Object 09) of SDAG Wismut, a uranium mine in the Westerzgebirge. With a total depth of more than 1,800 m, the mine was the deepest mine in Germany until its closure (mindat). These type of specimens, although they are not "aesthetic", have an essential systematic and historical interest. For lovers of "gray minerals", like myself...

Size: 8.8 x 6.4 x 3.4 cm.

Bright silvery to bronze aggregate of allargentum (upper left corner) on matrix. Two sides of the matrix are covered with minute safflorite crystals. The allargentum has pseudocrystalline habit.
Shaft 371 is the main shaft of the former Aue Mining Company (formerly Object 09) of SDAG Wismut, a uranium mine in the Westerzgebirge. With a total depth of more than 1,800 m, the mine was the deepest mine in Germany until its closure (mindat). These type of specimens, although they are not "aesthetic", have an essential systematic and historical interest. For lovers of "gray minerals", like myself...

Size: 4.8 x 4.4 x 2.5 cm.

Classic locality

This specimen shows numerous intense red-orange crystals of crocoite accented by yellow-green microcrystals of vauquelinite. The combination of intensely colorful species made this specimen very aesthetic. It show jack-straw aggregates formed by elongated chisel shaped crystals. Few samples are seen on the market. A rare, and important, display-quality German classic from J. Viñals and E. Nicolau collection.

Size: 6.3 x 6 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.
Classic locality

Specimens of fettelite, a complex silver-mercury sulfoarsenide, are very rare and even less so at this size. Under magnification we can observe burgundy red laminar crystals of fettelite, together with idiomorphic crystals of proustite. An exceptional piece.

Size: 9 x 5.2 x 4 cm.

Type Locality

Rübenkeller is the famous historical locality for chabazite and phillipsite from about 1850 and was very prolific in zeolite specimens in the late 19th century. In this specimen, from the Freiburg Bergakademie, we can see various aggregates of very well defined, pseudocubic, transparent and very bright crystals, which fill the vacuoles of the volcanic rock. It is accompanied by a very interesting old handwritten label.

Size: 5.6 x 4.4 x 2.7 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm.
Found in ±1880.

Freiberg Bergakademie

Group of barite crystals, of good size, well defined and richly faceted, transparent to translucent and with a honeyed hue. They are disposed in a very aerial way on a matrix with fluorite and quartz.

Size: 7.6 x 4 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Group of very good size baryte crystals, well-defined faces and edges, transparent to translucent, with inclusions of pyrolusite and quartz.

Size: 5 x 3.8 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Classic locality

An azurite specimen from this classic German locality, to be enjoyed under magnification. These are aggregates of azurite crystals, some isolated, richly faceted, with transparence, brilliance and the characteristic colour. With globular aggregates of malachite. Very aesthetic.

Size: 4.8 x 4 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm. agreg.

Classic locality

The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 6.2 x 4 x 3 cm.

Analyzed specimen with report

The silver specimens from this classic German mine has been known for a long time, but in these specimens silver is included in chrysocolla, of an intense greenish blue colour, and shows a remarkable luster, sometimes with golden iridescence. Under magnification we can see facets of crystals of this metal. We have analyzed these samples and the results indicate that they do not contain other metals detectable by SEM-EDS. These specimens are already a few years old.

Size: 6.1 x 4.8 x 2.1 cm.
Found in ±1995.

Analyzed specimen with report

Grube Clara baryte specimens are a classic for the species in Europe. In this specimen we can enjoy numerous crystal aggregates, some isolated, presenting a rich complexity of facets. They are mainly formed by faces of orthorhombic prisms and curiously some are translucent while others are totally transparent. The brilliance, transparence and contrast on the matrix add aesthetics to this specimen.

Size: 7 x 4.4 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ±2020.

Classic locality

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

Size: 8.8 x 7.4 x 5.2 cm.
Main crystal: 4.2 cm.
Found in 2021.

Analyzed specimen with report

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

Size: 6.7 x 5.5 x 4.1 cm.
Found in 2021.

Analyzed specimen with report

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

Size: 9 x 5.8 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3 cm. rad.
Found in 2021.

Analyzed specimen with report

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

Size: 7.4 x 5.4 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 4.7 cm.
Found in 2021.

Analyzed specimen with report

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

Size: 7.2 x 7 x 4.1 cm.
Main crystal: 2.7 cm.
Found in 2021.

Analyzed specimen with report

Aesthetic globular aggregate of thomsonite-Ca, with a slightly bony tone and disposed in a basalt vacuole lined with small phillipsite crystals. Arensberg phillipsite crystals contain both potassium and calcium, and in some crystals calcium is dominant. A very good specimen for this German locality, little represented in collections.

Size: 8.8 x 5.4 x 4.9 cm.
Main crystal: 13 mm. glob.
Found in ±1974.

Classic locality

This is another one of those specimens from old collections, as evidenced by the various accompanying labels, that contain discredited or dubious mineral names. Even so, the historical and scientific interest it presents has made us offer it.
In the piece we observe a core of galena with halos of alteration of the vein in the socket. In the cavities we find numerous well-formed crystals of cerussite. And in some areas we observe greenish and honeyed tones probably corresponding to pyromorphite, but also to possible scorodite. The 'ganomatite' is considered a scorodite with impurities, while the pitticite is a questionable species formed by amorphous hydrated iron arsenate. Although this last mineral is currently accepted, it is questioned.

Size: 5.4 x 4 x 3.9 cm.
Found in ±1977.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).