Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greyish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. The municipality corresponds to Viladrau. Mining in this type of deposits in this area and surrounding areas had been focused on the extraction of minerals of Pb, Zn, F and Ba. Together with the Osor and Tagamanent deposits, the Rigròs main vein from Sant Marçal mines is one of the most important in terms of fluorite extraction. Although there are other less thin mineralized veins in the area. These veins are embedded in granodiorite rock, which locally present metric dikes with a pegmatite texture. the granodiorites are usually altered to "sauló" (coarse-grained sand with micas, clays and quartz grains) and in some specimens it forms part of the matrix. The paragenesis of these veins: fluorite, baryte, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite and quartz (often amethyst variety). They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

This is a very good sized specimen of hematite from the group of mines called "Monte de Hierro" (Iron Hill), whose concessions were between the terms of San Nicolás del Puerto and Constantina, although most of the surface is found in the first municipality mentioned. This specimen belongs from the Trigo collection (Mataró) and according to the label it was extracted in 1989 by Julián García.

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These aggregates of hexagonal gmelinite crystals are a classic of Northern Ireland mineralogy. In this specimen we can enjoy a vacuole covered by orange crystals, very well defined and brilliant. They are accompanied by small analcime crystals, richly faceted and transparent. Gmelinite specimens from this quarry were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and SEM-EDS by Stephen Moreton. The results indicated that both gmelinite-Ca and gmelinite-Na are present and even zoned in the same crystal.

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Various globular aggregates of smithsonite are disposed in a goethite. They fill the cavities in the matrix. They have a good brilliance along with a slightly bluish gray color. A curious specimen from this classic Mexican mine.

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.

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These specimens were extracted in Loma de Hamapega (hill), a short mountain range between the localities of Alanís and Guadalcanal. Various minerals were analyzed, among which we highlight conichalcite, green in color, azurite and some earthy aggregates that turned out to be chenevixite. We will send analyses to the buyer. A sample for local collectors.

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Very interesting combo formed by a tinticite nodule with some calcioferrite small aggregate. Calcioferrite is showing olive green globular aggregates, with radiated crystals, included in tinticite matrix. These specimens have been analyzed by SEM-EDS and XRD and we will send all details to the buyer. From this classic Catalan mine.

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Very interesting combo formed by a tinticite nodule with some calcioferrite small aggregate. Calcioferrite is showing olive green globular aggregates, with radiated crystals, included in tinticite matrix. These specimens have been analyzed by SEM-EDS and XRD and we will send all details to the buyer. From this classic Catalan mine.

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This is one of the rare borates determined in Kohnstein quarry. The crystals, sharp and well defined, are completely transparent, colorless, large for the species and on matrix. It comes from this currently inactive quarry in the Harz mountains.

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Very rich specimen formed by several hydroboracite crystals, with a very elongated prism and well-defined faces and edges. Totally colorless, transparent and with an extraordinary brightness. A piece of the best quality for the species. It belongs from a currently inactive quarry in the Harz mountains.

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Specimen rich in Co-ore on which various proustite crystals stand out. Very faceted and transparent, which allows us to see the red color of this silver sulfosalt. A photograph of this specimen, from Volker Betz, was image of the day in mindat (Photo of the Day - 7th Oct 2012). A very remarkable piece for this German mine.

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Hilarionite is a very rare hydrated iron hydroxyarsenate sulphate, unique to this mine in the famous old district of Lavrion. This species was approved at the end of 2011. In this good-sized specimen, the hilarionite appears as botryoidal aggregates formed by small crystals, with a more intense greenish-yellow hue in some areas. The specimen was acquired by Erich Laskowsky from Anastasios Tsinidis, a well-known "strahler" (quartz hunter) of Greek origin. A fine piece from the type locality for the species.

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This is a representative specimen of fissural cinnabar, in which we can observe under magnification small flattened cinnabar crystals, with striated faces, on a druse of quartz crystals. The transparence makes it very brilliant under the light.

As is often the case with old labels, the localities are sometimes discrepant with the data we currently have available on the Internet. This historic specimen of ilmenite, from the Joan Astor collection was acquired in 1976 from Joan Montal (former mineral seller from Vilafranca del Penedés), provides us with a label indicating the locality of Saint-Urbain. At the time of documenting this piece, we have found the photo of an ilmenite from Havre-Saint-Pierre (an area further northeast of Saint-Urbain) with a very similar shape and accompanying species and, most notable, it is indicated that it was collected in situ during a visit in 1979 (view), when our specimen dates from 1976. Furthermore, both specimens are formed by aggregates of ilmenite crystals with a few pyrite crystals embeded.

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In this specimen we can see a group of bluish fluorite crystals partially covered by a druse of minute but very bright quartz crystals.

Very esthetic specimen of celestine from Morocco. It shows us a large group of prismatic crystals of this strontium sulphate, very well defined and faceted, and with an excellent transparence that allows us to see a soft bluish color. They are disposed on a compact matrix. This locality is northeast of Imilchil town.

Group of globular aggregates of gyrolite, with a very good size, white and translucent. They are accompanied in the vacuole with fine acicular crystals of okenite. The photos do not do the piece justice. Very aesthetic.

Very rich group of harmotome crystals filling a vacuole in the volcanic rocky matrix. Rich also in faces, with brilliance and between transparent like the smaller ones, and translucent the larger ones. Idar-Oberstein is known as a city of precious stones with traditional workshops those work agate, jasper, quartz, etc. A specimen of very good quality for this locality, nowadays difficult to find. With old label.

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Very good sized specimen of fluorite from this classic Catalan quarry. On the "old" matrix of orange granodiorite there are various groups of crystals, some of them isolated, with octahedral shapes. They have a semi-matte luster and a uniform green color. Very fluorescent under LW-UV light. Specimens of fluorite from this quarry are highly prized by collectors.

In this sample we can observe a large group of prismatic crystals, acicular, bright, with a dark violet to lavender color. The original description of this piece referred to a mineral from the amphibole supergroup called "crossite". This species is currently discredited and it is an intermediate between riebeckite and glaucophane groups. The specimens from this Austrian locality are very characteristic.

Epidote specimens from this area of Mont-Blanc are not at all common. This specimen was purchased by Joan Astor in Chamonix. It is an idiomorphic crystal, of a good size, with well-defined faces, except for one in the upper part that is fractured. We can also observe growth fissures. This specimen has its history since it was acquired from Francesc Garcia, one of the referents of Catalan mountaineering.

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In this specimen we can observe a group of celestine crystals with a highly developed prism and small but well defined terminal faces. They are transparent, which allows us to observe a marked color zoning with honeyed tones in the lower middle part and colorless in the upper part. They are disposed on a matrix with sulphur. This specimen belongs from the former Joan Astor collection and we will send the handwritten label to the buyer.

Abstract from Gradowski et al. (1992): "Sulphur deposits being surface mined in the Tarnobrzeg area of Poland formed post-depositionally in the vuggy limestone layer above gypsum and anhydrite beds. Sulphur was deposited mostly as powder but also as coarsely crystalline masses and as free-growing crystals. Other materials present in the sulphur-bearing horizon include calcite, gypsum, quartz, aluminum oxide, celestine, and barite. Mineral specimens of these minerals collected at the mine are described."
Gradowski, J. and Kubiak, W.W. (1992) The Machow Mine, Tarnobrzeg, Poland. The Mineralogical Record: 23(1): 29-32.

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Very esthetic miniature formed by a group of quartz crystals covered by beveled cubic pyrite on which various tabular crystals of hübnerite stand out, well defined and with a very visible red transparence. Specimen from the Joan Astor collection, acquired in 1982 from Bailey Minerals (Ángel Jesús Talabán García, Segovia 1942-Madrid 2007).

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Druse of pyrite crystals with faces of the cube and rhobododecahedron, striated faces, complex crystallography, which adds interest to the specimen. Back side is curiously flat. The luster is exceptional, not easy to take photos. The crystals are interpenetrated. A classic from the mine from which the bases for the FIFA football award "Ballon d'Or" are obtained...

These specimens are formed by numerous prismatic crystals of albite, very well defined and interpenetrated. They are accompanied by acicular crystals of actinolite and epidote, and octahedral magnetite. A piece of good size and quality. They were sold as orthoclase but a recent XRD analysis I have done indicates that it is albite (2/15/2024). Maybe more interesting.

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