Diopside specimens from Castellaccio are difficult to find today. They show aggregates of radiated prismatic diopside crystals with a lavender hue due to manganese content. It is the best known species found in rodingite (a metasomatic rock) from this Italian quarry. Various analyzes have shown the presence of Co (0.5% by weight in CoO) and Mn (1.5% by weight in MnO). Associated minerals include perovskite, grossular, andradite, magnetite, titanite, apatite, pyrrhotite, and calcite (Bedognè et al., 2006). With an interesting label, from the Naïf mineral dealer (Bormio), but I have not found more information about.

Bedognè, F., Montrasio, A., Sciesa, E. (2006): I minerali della medio-alta Valtellina delle Orobie e della Val Poschiavo. Aggiornamenti sulle altre località della provincia di Sondrio. Tipografia Bettini, Sondrio, 255 pp.

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These Italian calcite specimens were labeled, decades ago, as vaterite, a polymorph of calcite and aragonite. Hexagonal shapes, with well-defined, flattened and interpenetrating crystals, led to this assumption. They were obtained from a excavation works that revealed a large fissure filled with gneiss blocks of various sizes cemented by crystallized calcite. This calcite appeared as milky white pseudohexagonal prismatic crystals. This specimen belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

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Radial aggregates of reddish-brown sursassite, bright and on the quartz matrix. It is accompanied by orange-yellow aggregates of tinzenite crystals, together with fibrous masses of light yellow ganophyllite.

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Really fine specimen for this rare species. The balangeroite is a magnesium, iron anfd manganese silicate, only found in a few places worldwide. The serpentine Poggio San Vittore quarry, which were the best samples has been found and it is the type locality for the species, is abandoned since 1990. The mineral usually appears included in the serpentine matrix and only few fibers are aerial. In this specimen, fibers are totally aerial and with a good length.

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Alurgite is a variety of purple muscovite. It was classified 1959 as an intermediate variety between leucophyllite and muscovite. A study of Knurr and Bailey (1986, online) showed that the alurgite, treated as muscovite-2M1 with Mn, contains trivalent manganese (in contrast to divalent Mn-containing "manganophyllite"). This specimen of good size shows us an aggregate of micaceous crystals, with an intense brilliance and good color, in a quartzite rocky matrix. A rare variety of muscovite.

Group of prismatic baryte crystals, doubly terminated and well defined, with good luster and transparency. They are disposed very aerially on the matrix. The history of the Silius mines begins in the first decades of the 20th century, particularly in 1916, when the first research permits were registered for the galena. It was in the early 1950s that the focus was on major fluorite outcrops and in 1953 the first company to obtain the mining concession for the exploitation of the rich fluors of fluorite and galena was created, the Mineraria Silius SpA, active until 2006.

Group of very sharp hematite crystals, well defined edges and faces, intense metallic gray color, almost black, with aesthetic iridescent reflections. Very interesting historical piece, from the former Manchion collection.

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A classic specimen from the Alpine valley of Aosta. Group of very defined crystals of grossular, with an exceptional brightness and very intense orange color. They show faces of the dodecahedron and the trapezohedron. They are accompanied by aggregates of olive green chlorite. A very bright and aesthetic piece.

Glaucophane is an unusual species member of the amphibol group. This Italian locality is known worldwide for the good specimens of this species. It is usually covered with calcite, which once removed shows sculptural aggregates of striated tabular to prismatic translucent crystals, with an intense bluish-gray color, almost violet. In the cavities appear small orange crystals of rutile and groups of chromian muscovite (var. fuchsite). Pyrite crystals also can be found. A good sized and very aesthetic combination from this classic locality.

Glaucophane is an unusual species member of the amphibol group. This Italian locality is known worldwide for the good specimens of this species. It is usually covered with calcite, which once removed shows sculptural aggregates of striated tabular to prismatic translucent crystals, with an intense bluish-gray color, almost violet. In the cavities appear small orange crystals of rutile and groups of chromian muscovite (var. fuchsite). Pyrite crystals also can be found. A good sized and very aesthetic combination from this classic locality.

Glaucophane is an unusual species member of the amphibol group. This Italian locality is known worldwide for the good specimens of this species. It is usually covered with calcite, which once removed shows sculptural aggregates of striated tabular to prismatic translucent crystals, with an intense bluish-gray color, almost violet. In the cavities appear small orange crystals of rutile and groups of chromian muscovite (var. fuchsite). Pyrite crystals also can be found. A good sized and very aesthetic combination from this classic locality.

Glaucophane is an unusual species member of the amphibol group. This Italian locality is known worldwide for the good specimens of this species. It is usually covered with calcite, which once removed shows sculptural aggregates of striated tabular to prismatic translucent crystals, with an intense bluish-gray color, almost violet. In the cavities appear small orange crystals of rutile and groups of chromian muscovite (var. fuchsite). Pyrite crystals also can be found. A good sized and very aesthetic combination from this classic locality.

Very bright specimen formed by numerous hexagonal shape pyrrhotite crystals, accompanied by pyrite. A pyrite mine owned by Solmine. Closed before 1984. An old specimen from an Italian locality from where it is very difficult find specimens.

Very rich group of anglesite crystals, which show very good transparence, defined faces and edges, formed by first and second order prisms. They are disposed in a cavity of the galena matrix. From a classic Italian locality from where it is not easy to find anglesite specimens of this quality in the market. It comes from the former collection of L. Daunis (Barcelona) with handwriten label.

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A rich cluster of hyaline quartz crytals from the famous Carrara Marble quarries of Italy. The ancients believed that water solidified in the form of hyaline quartz crystals... Viewing this specimen, its purity, transparence, brilliance and perfection, perhaps we can understand their interpretation. Snowy white marble matrix with dolomite crystals. An Italian gemm.

On a matrix of stalactitic goethite, with a deep brown color, numerous prismatic crystals of pyromorphite are disposed, many of them doubly terminated, between translucent to transparent and with a delicate green color. The specimens of this Italian mine are very unusual in the market. Very interesting and aesthetic speciumen.

The baryte specimens of this Italian mine, which finished its work in the 80's, are considered among the best European classics for the species. This specimen presents a rich group of tabular crystals, with sharp edges and faces, excellent transparence and a superb toasted honey color. It emphasizes among them a crystal of more than 5 cm. Nowadays it is very difficult to find these samples with this quality. An European classic.

Pyroaurite-2H is a polytype formerly known as sjögrenite (discredited). This specimen belongs from a classic Italian locality for the species. A matrix of marble with calcite on which stand out numerous foliaceous aggregates of tabular orange color pyroaurite. This specimen has its pedigree in the collections Pierini and Vochten. The label of the latter accompanies this interesting piece.

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A high quality and sized specimen from the famous Carrara Marble quarries of Italy. The ancients believed that water solidified in the form of hyaline quartz crystals... Viewing this specimen, its purity, transparence, brilliance and perfection, perhaps we can understand their interpretation. Undamaged crystals and on snowy white marble matrix, partially covered by tiny crystals of calcite. An Italian gemm...

Really fine specimen, with good size, for this rare species. The balangeroite is a magnesium, iron anfd manganese silicate, only found in a few places worldwide. The serpentine Poggio San Vittore quarry, which were the best samples has been found and it is the type locality for the species, is abandoned since 1990.
The mineral usually appears included in the serpentine matrix and only few fibers are aerial. In this specimen, fibers are totally aerial and with an unusual length. A definitive piece, from the TL for selected displays.

Really fine specimen, with good size, for this rare species. The balangeroite is a magnesium, iron anfd manganese silicate, only found in a few places worldwide. The serpentine Poggio San Vittore quarry, which were the best samples has been found and it is the type locality for the species, is abandoned since 1990.
The mineral usually appears included in the serpentine matrix and only few fibers are aerial. In this specimen, fibers are totally aerial and with an unusual length. A definitive piece, from the TL for selected displays.

This sulphur crystal specimen comes from one of the most worldwide famous mine for this element in the province of Agrigento. Nowadays it is difficult to find crystals of this size and less with a reasonable price. It shows very well defined faces and typically rounded edges. The yellow color is very intense, bright and with a remarkable transparence. To add value to the sample we observe various bituminous inclusions into back side. Good size and gem quality.

Rich group of heulandite-Ca crystals which form aggregates of tabular crystals with a hexagonal shape. Intense orange-red color, brilliance and disposed on a vug of the igneous rocky matrix. A piece from this classic Italian and European locality for the species.

Groups of orange rosettes of this rare species. Tinzenite is a boro/aluminosilicate of calcium and manganese from the axinite group [see here], and probably the best specimens are from this Italian mine. Also accompanied by quartz crystals and white to pink kutnohorite aggregates.

Groups of orange rosettes of this rare species. Tinzenite is a boro/aluminosilicate of calcium and manganese from the axinite group [see here], and probably the best specimens are from this Italian mine. Also accompanied by quartz crystals.