Very good specimen of joaquinite-(Ce) from this classic North American mine. In the crossite matrix (obsolete name of an intermediate amphibole between the riebeckite group and the glaucophane group) we can see two crystals of joaquinite-(Ce), a rare species with the formula: NaBa₂Ce₂FeTi₂[Si₄O₁₂]₂O₂(OH,F)·H₂O. They stand out for its perfection, with an intense orange color, translucent, with defined faces and edges, and a good size for the species. Very rare on the market with this quality.

Classic and elegant specimen from Berbes, with book-shaped baryte crystals, yellowish white in color, on which various aggregates of cubic fluorite crystals stand out, very transparent and brilliant that allow us to see a violet colour zoning. On the back we can see a handwritten attached label.

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Group of prismatic arfvedsonite crystals, with parallel growth, striated faces and polycrystalline terminations, very shiny and dark green, almost black in color. Accompanied by minor feldspar as a matrix.

Group of prismatic arfvedsonite crystals, with parallel growth, striated faces and polycrystalline terminations, shiny and dark green, almost black in color. They are partially covered with feldspar. A curious specimen...

65 €

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Group of prismatic arfvedsonite crystals, with parallel growth, one of them very elongated, striated faces and polycrystalline terminations, shiny and dark green, almost black, on a feldspar matrix.

Group of prismatic arfvedsonite crystals, with parallel growth, striated faces and polycrystalline terminations, shiny and dark green, almost black in color. In feldspar matrix. Nowadays it is difficult to get these samples.

55 €

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Group of prismatic arfvedsonite crystals, with parallel growth, striated faces and polycrystalline terminations, shiny and dark green, almost black in color. In feldspar matrix. Nowadays it is difficult to get these samples.

Pinkish aluminotaipingite-(CeCa) aggregates on matrix. They have been analyzed and the results will be sent to the buyer. Montoso is one of the areas where the "Pietra di Luserna" or "Stone of Luserna" is extracted, a leucogranitic orthogneiss characterized by a micro-"Augen" texture and a greenish gray or locally pale blue color.

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Specimen formed by a matrix of goethite (limonite) with cavities covered by calcite crystals accompanied by small, shiny black needles of plattnerite.

Aggregate of fibrous to acicular crystals of this rare arsenic-lead sulfosal of which Lengenbach is the type locality. It is accompanied by red realgar crystals, on a saccharaoid dolomite matrix. It is accompanied by pyrite and sphalerite. Several labels show the pedigree of the piece, with a date of 1988.

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Very interesting interstitial lead laminar growth, the matrix is epidotite, a relatively uncommon metamorphic rock, formed almost exclusively of crystalline epidote. The sample is from a Swedish locality, classic for native Lead but that must not be confused with better known Långban.

Although it is not an aesthetic specimen in the conventional sense, this metacinnabar is a very interesting for the locality and unusual piece for sale. It comes from the Pietrineri mine, a mercury mine included in the famous mercury mineral complex of Monte Amiata, currently completely abandoned. Mining operations at Pietrineri began in 1902 and ceased in 1979. In the specimen we can see the vermilion of cinnabar along with black aggregates of metacinnabar.

Clinohumite specimens from the Sierra de Mijas are a classic of Spanish mineralogy. These specimens are treated using chemical processes to make the crystals emerge in the marble matrix. They are accompanied by dark violet octahedral crystals of spinel. Clinohumite is a member of the humite group. It forms a continuous series with hydroxyclinohumite. The name "clinohumite" has commonly been used when the F/OH ratio has not been determined. Mijas is a magnesium skarn embedded in marble and pelitic gneiss, amphibolites and granulitic gneiss, in the contact zone with alpine peridotites-serpentinites (Sierra de Mijas).

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Excellent specimen of pyrophyllite from this classic Californian locality. We can observe the bright radial aggregates of this phyllosilicate. A very representative specimen for the species.

This topaz specimen shows us some interesting inclusions oriented in the cleavage plane (001). Transparency is complete. With label from Juan Montal, former mineral dealer from Vilafranca del Penedés (Catalonia).

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Good sized topaz crystal, colorless, richly faceted, brilliant, colourless and very transparent. It has some chips, but it is a gem.

60 €

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Group of rhodochrosite crystals included in the matrix. Bright and transparent. From this classic Peruvian mine.

Compact aggregates of pectolite, forming radial aggregates of creamy white color, forming globules interpenetrated between them. On a basalt matrix. Fluorescent under LWUV. It belongs from the Emili Nicolau (Barcelona) collection and was acquired from Joan Viñals in 2003.

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Several ilvaite crystals on a druse of quartz crystals, with an intense black color, doubly terminated and twinned. Observing with the magnifying glass we can see perfect doubly terminated crystals, a pleasure. They are arranged in a very aerial way giving the specimen a notable elegance.

Specimen very rich in cassiterite crystals, very bright, richly faceted and of an intense dark brown color. The specimen has been repaired without affecting the interest of the specimen, from my point of view. A very interesting piece from these tin mines of the St Agnes mining district, an English classic.

Silver specimen from this Australian locality formed by numerous groups of silver on twisted wires. It is accompanied by siderite and galena, and probably chlorargyrite. From the Vilaseca collection, Barcelona.

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A very aesthetic specimen of what are some of the most iconic cassiterites in the world, and certainly the most famous from Europe: Schlaggenwald (nowadays Horni Slavkov), have such an iconic appearance and this piece is no exception. It features a predominant, sharp, lustrous, cyclic twinned group crystals, in unusual peaked formation (result of twinning). 

220 €

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This rare specimen of stibnite has an ancient handwritten label attached indicating the San Pancracio mine in Ceuta. Searching for information about this mine we have found in MTI details of the work: “Síntesis geológica de Ceuta” by Simón Chamorro and Mercedes Nieto (1989) about this town. We reproduce here some of the details indicated in their work: "Next to Arroyo de las Bombas and near Fort Piniers, there is a deposit of antimonite (stibnite), known by the name of San Pancracio. The mineralization is associated with the contact between the warped limestones and the Carboniferous shales and sandstones; both types of rocks appear mineralized, although in the latter with more intensity the main control of the deposit is defined by a fault and a system of associated fractures from directions N 10º E to N 25º. E. [...] It was exploited by Fundiciones de Antimonio S.A. of Barcelona, from 1960 until March 1979, the year in which it was abandoned due to depletion of the main mineralized masses. Its production has been very small, a maximum of 135 t. in 1970, and an average grade of 45% [...] It presents a paragenesis of stibnite-quartz and carbonates, with traces of chalcostibine, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcosine, covelline, brandsite and gold. Simón Chamorro Moreno, Mercedes Nieto García (1989): Síntesis geológica de Ceuta. Ceuta. ISBN: 84-87148-07-9.

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These hematite crystals from a quarry near Nador are already a classic of Moroccan mineralogy. This specimen is made up of various crystals in parallel growth, with exceptional brilliance, and showing the faces of different crystals. Its size and quality and metallic luster make them a definitive specimen from this locality. These hematites come from a small rhyolite quarry very near the community of Nador, on the road to Melilla.

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Group of carrollite crystals showing cube and octahedron shapes. Very bright and interpenetrated with each other. Defined edges and faces and exceptional shine. Very aesthetic.