A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue and green. A delicatessen from Brazil.

Size: 1.4 x 1 x 0.7 cm.

Col. A. Trigo, Mataró.

Group of rutile crystals with a highly visible cyclic twin. A brilliant piece with years... From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 2.7 x 2.3 x 1.9 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

Group of very elongated quartz crystals, with developed prisms and well-defined rhombohedral terminal faces. Very transparent. Some faces of the prism show growth oriented cavities.

Size: 6.9 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6.9 x 1 cm.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

These alluvial peble specimens of bahianite are a remarkable rarity due to the composition. It is the only known pure aluminum antimonate. Structurally related to simpsonite (Ta instead of Sb). It is normally found as rolled pellets in the Pico das Almas river, in Brazil. It comes from this type locality for the species.

Size: 8 x 6 x 5 mm.

Type Locality

Elongated single crystal of orange-pink childrenite without matrix. Transparent to translucent, with brilliance and defined terminal faces and altered prism.Very unusual for the species. From the former A. Trigo collection (Mataró).

Size: 2.5 x 1.1 x 0.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1985.

Col. Antonio Trigo (Mataró).

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue, green and yellow. A delicatessen from Brazil, referenced in Joan Astor's published work in issuu, that we recommend you visit and browse.

Size: 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1976.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. Lapidis.

Prismatic elbaite crystal, of an intense color, with the defined pinacoidal face truncating the prism. The label indicates that it comes from South Africa, but we are not aware that specimens like this have been found in this part of the world. A miniature gemmy piece.

Size: 1.2 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1973.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

A very interesting specimen of topaz, in which we can see striated faces on the prism, truncated by pinacoids, very unusual. Transparence, brilliance and with the handwritten label from the Astor collection indicating "negative" faces. This piece was adquired to the well-know Catalan dealer Jordi Figueras, one of the suppliers of the Folch collection.

Size: 4.5 x 3.4 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1978.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. J. Figueras.

Group of elbaite crystals, in parallel growth, with striated prismatic faces, deep green color and good luster. From the former Manchion collection, with the characteristic label.

Size: 5.4 x 2.6 x 2.4 cm.
Found in 1989.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona) #483.

Excellent specimen of a quartz crystal with inclusions. In this specimen we can see green and reddish inclusions, most likely due to growths of chlorite and iron oxides in the growing crystal. A very interesting and aesthetic piece. From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 5.8 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1975.

Col. Joan Astor.

Excellent specimen of a quartz crystal with geometric inclusions. In this specimen we can see green and reddish zonations, most likely due to growths of chlorite and iron oxides on the facets of the growing crystal. A very interesting and aesthetic piece. From the Joan Astor collection.

Size: 6.5 x 4 x 3 cm.
Found in ca. 1975.

Col. Joan Astor.

A good size beryl crystal, aquamarine variety, from those of oldtimes. It shows the faces of the hexagonal prism and terminal flat pinacoid. From the Manchion collection (Barcelona).

Size: 8.8 x 4.4 x 3.4 cm.
Found in 1988.

#279 Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

A classic old-time specimen of hydroxylherderite, well crystallized, with sharp translucent idiomorphic monoclinic crystals. Lustrous and with a greenish-yellow tone. Associated with albite and muscovite from the Golconda pegmatite in Brazil. From Manchion Collection, purchased to Dr. Joan Viñals. Previously misidentified as herderite.

Size: 5.5 x 4.2 x 2.7 cm.
Found in ±1987.

Col. Manchion #364, J. Viñals 04/1987,

Good sized rounded, globular crystals of lilac-pink lepidolite. This formation is also known as ball-peen lepidolite after the resemblance to the round end of a ball-peen hammer. Lepidolite is a Li-rich member of the series between polylithionite and trilithionite. A very aesthetic specimen from Manchion Collection.

Size: 9.4 x 9.2 x 8.2 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. Manchion #610.

A classic old-time specimen of hydroxylherderite, well crystallized, with sharp translucent idiomorphic monoclinic crystals. Lustrous and with a greenish-yellow tone. Associated with albite and muscovite from the Golconda pegmatite in Brazil. From Manchion Col., purchased in 1987 to Dr. Joan Viñals. Previously misidentified as herderite. Previamente mal identificada como herderita.

Size: 6.5 x 4.3 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm
Found in 1987.

Col. Manchion #354, J. Viñals 04/1987,

Excellent specimen formed by a polysynthetic growth of hematite crystals, with an exceptional brightness. Rich in faces, defined edges and a good size for the species and the locality.
Rob Lavinsky said: "Splendent, complex hematite crystals form a striking specimen from this less well-known Brazilian locale. The majestic, large crystal, with numerous amazing faces is 3.5 cm and is nearly pristine. This fine piece is complete-all-around. Choice and uncommon material from the Larry Krause dealer stock". [go to mindat]

Size: 5.2 x 4.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3.7 x 3.5 cm.

Usually these imperial topaz appear without matrix. In this specimen we can enjoy a prismatic crystal, doubly terminated by the pinacoids, with brilliance, transparence and intense color. With small ding in lateral face. It is gemmy from top to bottom.

Size: 5.7 x 4.8 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 16 x 15 mm.

One of a very few tourmalines I found in this old collection with this classic combination from the 1960s or 1970s: nice brilliant lustre, glassy surface, intense color zoning between pink to green. Parallel groth, terminal rhombohedrons and a crossing prismatic pink small crystal between them. This well-known pegmatite mine was discovered in 1991 and produced very colorful tourmalines. Nice gem.

Size: 2.2 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona)

Topaz crystal with intense color, transparence and good brilliance. With a complex termination very rich in faces, where we can observe at least two pyramid forms and the pinacoid, along with two prisms. The base is a cleavage surface.

Size: 3.0 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm.

Fluorescent under LW-UV and SW-UV lights

On a matrix formed by good size crystals of quartz (var. amethyst) some scalenohedral calcite crystals are disposed, brilliant and translucent. Calcite presents intense red fluorescence under LW-UV light. A very aesthetic piece that represent the calcite crystals which appear in the classic Brazilian amethyst geodes.

Size: 11.8 x 9.8 x 9.0 cm.
Main crystal: 6.5 x 3.4 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

From an not well-known Brazilian locality for the species, a colorful and aesthetic specimen formed by green malachite rosette-shaped pseudomorphs after azurite scattered over matrix of limonite. Good size and excellent shape.

Size: 5.5 x 5.0 x 4.2 cm.
Found in 2009.

Group of very nice elbaite crystals, one of them with a good size, transparence and marked color zoning. They are accompanied by a rich group of clevelandite crystals very aerial disposed. We can observe groups of developed lepidolite crystals those give an aesthetic touch to the specimen.

Size: 6,3 x 5,4 x 3,8 cm.
Main crystal: 60 x 13 mm.

Group of divergent elbaite crystals with good brilliance, defined prismatic faces and complex terminals, almost needle. Good transparence that reveals green color, violet at the upper terminal faces and a delicate red tone in the crystal core. The color zoning is very marked. A gemmy specimen.

Size: 5,0 x 4,8 x 3,2 cm.
Main crystal: 43 x 14 mm.

Three prismatic Topaz crystals with well defined faces and edges, very transparent and showing a delicate and uniform pinkish tone. Very fluorescent. Implanted on a Quartz crystal matrix.

Size: 5,0 x 3,6 x 2,4 cm.
Main crystal: 5 x 4 mm (group)
Found in 11/2008

Fluorescent under long wave UV