Sample with native bismuth and yellowish bismutite. From a classic Spanish locality.

Size: 3.5 x 2.8 x 2.2 cm.
Found in ca. 1973

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

Stalactitic limonite and goethite specimens from Benalmádena (Málaga) have a remarkable aesthetic due to their orange colors, with dark tones... This specimen shows very marked stalactitic growths. From the Astor collection (Barcelona).

Size: 7.7 x 5.4 x 3.7 cm.
Found in ca. 1983.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Pyromorphite specimens from the San Andrés mine in Espiel, Córdoba, have been known since the first half of the 20th century. At the beginning of the 80s of this past century several quality specimens were recovered from the mine. This specimen, due to the date on the label of the J. Astor collection (Barcelona), can be dated to this period. The specimen shows several pyromorphite crystals, of good size, brilliant, translucent, thick and with shapes of the hexagonal barrel shaped prism, with the characteristic color between green to yellowish-green. They fill a vug in the goethite matrix. A Spanish classic.

Size: 6 x 3.6 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 0.7 cm.
Found in ca. 1983.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona)
Classic locality

On a matrix of sulphides, an iridescent patina of covellite, very brilliant, with deep blue color. From a classic locality for the Spanish mineralogy. This specimen belongs from the Arguijo collection. A rarity.

Size: 5.6 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona).
Classic locality

his good sized specimen from the late 80s belongs from the Arguijo collection, and it was mined in this famous "onubense" mine. It is a sulphide matrix partially covered by brilliant covellite microcrystals, very defined and visible. It has an intense metallic blue iridescence and this very characteristic color. It is accompanied by numerous crystals of native sulphur with curved faces, brilliance, translucent and showing a delicate yellow tone. It was mined from a sporadic finding in the Corta Atalaya, Minas de Riotinto. A unique occasion to obtain one of these "old" specimens.

Size: 7.4 x 5.7 x 5.2 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona).
Classic locality

An unusual specimen of aragonite "flos ferri", found in 1996 at the Gloria mines, in Córdoba. Stalactitic recurved forms, brilliant and with a snowy white color to slightly green-bluish in the internal parts of the specimen. They are disposed on a matrix with colourless fluorite and traces of malachite. Not easy to see samples like this from this mine.

Size: 9.3 x 6.6 x 4.8 cm.
Found in 1996.

Classic locality

This good sized specimen from the late 80s belongs from the Arguijo collection, and it was mined in this famous "onubense" mine. It is a sulphide matrix partially covered by brilliant covellite microcrystals, very defined and visible. It has an intense metallic blue iridescence and this very characteristic color. It is accompanied by numerous crystals of native sulphur with curved faces, brilliance, translucent and showing a delicate yellow tone. It was mined from a sporadic finding in the Corta Atalaya, Minas de Riotinto. A unique occasion to obtain one of these "old" specimens.

Size: 8.5 x 7.7 x 4.6 cm.
Found in 1980's.

Col. Arguijo (Barcelona).
Classic locality

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.

Size: 5.5 x 5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2.8 cm. arista/edge
Found in ±1975.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Classic locality

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.

Size: 10 x 8.5 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 35 mm fibr.
Found in ±1988

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)

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.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 5.2 cm.

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.

Size: 8 x 6.5 x 4.7 cm.

Analyzed specimen with report

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.

Size: 10.2 x 6.5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ±1975

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de L.)

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.

Size: 7.5 x 6 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 6-7 mm.
Found in ±1975

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Analyzed specimen with report

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.

Size: 6.5 x 6 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 0.7 cm.

Col. Manchion #580, J. Viñals 1991.
Classic locality

Gray djurleite well defined crystals (largest group 9 mm) interpenetrated, showing octahedral forms, with triangular faces. On a matrix of copper sulphides. As usual of these specimens, they may actually correspond to phases of djurleite-chalcocite. We can consider the specimens of Las Cruces mine among the best worldwide. From the former Povill collection.

Size: 8.8 x 6.8 x 4.3 cm.
Main crystal: 9 mm. 20 x 18 mm aggr.

Excol. J. Povill (Olesa de Montserrat, Barcelona)

Rich groups of radiated celestine crystals, from this Spanish classic locality. This mine is also known as Rica mine. Good size and aesthetic specimen.

Size: 6.6 x 6.4 x 5 cm.

Classic locality

The label of this specimen reads "Sevilla". In the catalog of the Manchion collection it is mentioned that this piece of schorl-dravite was acquired to Dr. Joan Viñals, at the Granollers fair in 1988. For that reason, in the absence of more info, we will leave this wonderful Andalusian region as its origin. M. Calvo talks about tourmalines in pegmatites from the Los Ángeles mine, near El Castillo de las Guardas, in Seville.

Size: 4.5 x 3.8 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1988.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No. 399. J. Viñals, 1988.

Interesting example of goethite with a richness and very remarkable intense iridescences. From the classic mines of Riotinto; collected in 1985, accompanied by old label.

Size: 9.5 x 7.4 x 3.2 cm.
Found in 1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No.162.

Rich group of galena crystals those show facets of the cube, octahedron and dodecahedron in the edges. Very bright and interpenetrated, with a good size. They are accompanied by small crystals of quartz and pyrite. Specimens from these classic mines are difficult to see today. These mines are located in the mining area of La Carolina; the village of El Guindo is located about 8 kilometers from La Carolina, on the road to the also mining town of El Centenillo. The town is located next to the mine shafts of El Guindo and La Manzana, which constituted two of the most important works in the area.

Size: 9.5 x 8.0 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 25 x 25 mm.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de M.) No. 2096
Classic locality

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 6.6 x 3.2 x 2.7 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm.

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 6.3 x 4.4 x 1.5 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm.

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 5.2 x 4.4 x 2.0 cm.
Main crystal: 11 x 9 mm.

Montejícar is located midway between Granada and Jaén, in the northern limit of the province of Granada. This area is known among mineral collectors for the excellent quartz, smoked to morion, doubly terminated and with very poorly developed prism faces, which gives them a characteristic dipyramidal shape. These specimens are found in banded gypsum and marl from the Trias in a Keuper facies characteristic of the Cortijo Cañadas, in the N of the Montejícar municipal district. In the area there are some interesting ruins of plaster kilns.

Size: 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.2 cm.
Main crystal: 14 x 8 mm.

A rich group of scalenohedral calcite crystals, very acute, translucent, of good size and from this classic Andalusian locality. Not very common in these mines. Under the ultraviolet (LW) light they present a very remarkable red-pink fluorescence.

Size: 6.6 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 25 x 12 mm.
Found in 1975.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona) - No.283 (Sabadell)
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of blue quartz crystals, bright, some of them forming complex groups and other ones isolated, doubly terminated. They show short prisms along with developed terminal rhombohedral faces. Intense blue gray color due to amphibole inclusions. The matrix is partially covered with magnesium-riebeckite fibers. Very aesthetic specimen.

Size: 10.5 x 8.0 x 2.5 cm.