These tspecimens from Les Malines are very rare today. Twinned aggregates of bournonite crystals, partially covered by cube octahedral galena, pyrite and sphalerite. They are disposed on a matrix of baryte crystals. These are classics of the largest deposit of lead and zinc in France, whose exploitation dates back to Roman times.

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Exceptional specimen of opal, fire opal, with an intense orange to reddish color, with brilliance and transparence observed since it is an opal nodule with two light inputs. All light. It is enclosed in a very hard rhyolitic matrix. These are sometimes also called as "jelly opals" due to their unique color and waxy luster. This specimen was acquired by Joan Astor, at the end of the 80s, from the well-known Enric Kucera (Barcelona), a great connoisseur of Mexican mines. A gem.

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Group of skutterudite crystals, intense luster and well defined faces and edges, showing cube, octahedron and dodecahedron shapes. They are accompanied by white calcite with which they contrast. It belongs from this classic Moroccan mine and from the Joan Astor collection.

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Although the label of this specimen places the piece in Mozambique, we have no record of graphite specimens similar to this one in this African country. For another specimen from the same collection (Joan Astor) we can place it in the classical sites of the Ratnapura area, in Sri Lanka. Fibrous crystals with luster. More information can be found in the file of the specimen RM1836 [click here]. Very interesting classic.

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Brilliant black andradite crystals, var. melanite, on contrasting light matrix. Well defined faces and edges. Very aerial. From the former Joan Astor collection (Barcelona).

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A very hard to find enstatite specimen from the Ødegården apatite mines. Prismatic crystal of dark greenish-brown, partially transformed to talc. Accompanied by muscovite. During the 2nd World War, the mines were worked from 1941-1945 under the leadership of Adam Petterson. The mines are now closed and most of the dumps are overgrown by forest. Some of the dumps have been used as masses in construction and reparations of roads in the district.

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Pyrolusite specimens from Sagides (Soria) are rare on the market. In this specimen we can see bright aggregates of fine prismatic pyrolusite crystals. They are partially covering a goethite matrix.

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Classic ruby crystals, with an intense purple color, arranged in a quartz-rich matrix. Especially rich and aesthetic specimen from India. The crystals are sharp, bright and translucent. They fluoresce under UV light. Former Joan Astor Collection.

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Arborescent specimen of native copper, formed by numerous sharp crystals, with excellent luster and intense color. The piece is from the Joan Astor collection and dates from the early 70s.

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Group of sharp tabular axinite-(Fe) crystals from this classic French locality. Brilliant, transparent to translucent. The piece belongs from the Joan Astor collection and dates from the late 70s.

45 €

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These specimens are very rare in this classic locality for the rutile. The matrix is formed by interpenetrating tabular kyanite crystals coated with iridescent shades of 'turgite', a term used for the mixture of goethite and hematite. What is remarkable is a group of rutile crystals, very bright and well defined. A piece with history.

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Achtaragdite is a unique, rare and poorly understood pseudomorph, from this remote Siberian locality that is the Type Locality for grossular garnet. It is a variety of the grossular-hibschite garnet series and is (technically, according to mindat) a hydrogrossular-chlorite-carbonate pseudomorph after what was formerly considered to be wadalite or some other rare hydrogarnet. The real precursor mineral for these pseudomorphs is now considered to be helvite.

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Andalusite specimen from Cap de Creus (Cape), with pink tones and quite crystalline. The Cap de Creus Natural Park was the first maritime-terrestrial park in Catalonia. It was created in 1998 and protects a large part of the Cap de Creus peninsula. Currently totally prohibited to collect minerals in this area.

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Very bright opal from this Australian locality, with orange colors, the elongated dendrites of pyrolusite give it an aesthetic touch. This locality is formed by basaltic rocks over an area of more than 1000 km², most of them north and south of the Dawes mountain range. The main period of volcanic activity was at c. 25Ma. Acquired by Joan Astor from the well-known Jaume Serrate (Terrassa), whom we could describe as a "craftsman" of minerals.

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This locality is known for its production of "moonstone", extracted from altered pegmatites. It is an unpolished specimen, very crystalline, translucent, with slightly greenish tones, and a very characteristic light effect called adularescence. Thin alternating layers of orthoclase and albite create the light interference in this material that is responsible for this effect. Moonstone is a feldspar close to orthoclase and microcline.

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Another well-known locality for celestite specimens in La Segarra (Lleida) is the Tossal Gros quarry (Can Fontanella or Roca quarry). Oligocene lacustrine marls, marly limestones and limestones containing geodes with diagenetic celestite. The grayish matrix is very characteristic. The prismatic, acute crystals, between transparent to translucent, are disposed in the cavities of the marl rock. They are accompanied by calcite crystals. A classic of Catalan mineralogy.

Another well-known locality for celestite specimens in La Segarra (Lleida) is the Tossal Gros quarry (Can Fontanella or Roca quarry). Oligocene lacustrine marls, marly limestones and limestones containing geodes with diagenetic celestite. The grayish matrix is very characteristic. The prismatic, acute crystals, between transparent to translucent, are disposed in the cavities of the marl rock. They are accompanied by calcite crystals. A classic of Catalan mineralogy.

Rich group of celestite crystals, bright, with transparence and a characteristic bluish tone. They are disposed on a marl matrix upholstered with calcite crystals. This specimen belongs to the first outcrop of the Costa de l'Aguda, in Torà (Lleida).

A good size nodule of celestite from this classic Catalan locality. Well defined prismatic crystals, some brilliant, some of them partially replaced by calcite, also observing calcite perimorphosis, hollow prismatic crystals, some of them with corroded celestite remaining. This specimen is interesting for this substitution. The vug is covered with calcite crystals. This specimen belongs to the first outcrop of the Costa de l'Aguda, close to the town of Torà, Lleida.

Very "brilliant" specimen in the shape of a druse, with a pegmatitic matrix, accompanied by yellow fluorite crystals and upholstered with really brilliant quartz crystals, with an amethyst tone. These specimens were a rarity then and today.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700m). The works are between about 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. The municipal term corresponds to Viladrau. Mining in this type of deposits in this area and surrounding areas has focused on the extraction of minerals of Pb, Zn, F and Ba. Together with the Osor and Tagamanent deposits, the Rigròs vein of Sant Marçal mines is one of the most important in terms of the extraction of fluorite. Mines were operated until the mid-1990s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

Good sized specimen formed by a druse of cubic fluorite crystals with a yellow, slightly greenish, color. Translucent and with color zoning on some edges. They are partially covered by aggregates of quartz crystals with a soft amethyst tone. These specimens were a classic of this mine, but many years ago. These mines were operated until the mid-1990s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron. Intense color and good size. Partially corroded by fluids. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Fra Joan area is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron. Intense color and good size. Partially corroded by fluids. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Fra Joan area is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron, although we can observe some edges finely beveled by the trapezohedron. Intense color and luster. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, this specimen is mainly grossular. It is accompanied by small octahedral scheelite crystals of a white color, highly fluorescent under SW-UV light. The Roca del Turó mine is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, that mined a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.

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Group of andradite crystals with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron, although we can observe some edges finely beveled by the trapezohedron. Intense color and luster. Specimens from this mine have been analyzed indicating that it is andradite, although zonation with grossular cannot be discarded. Included in the matrix we can see some scheelite crystals. The Roca del Turó mine is a classic of Catalan mineralogy, located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, that mined a mineralization associated with a skarn. Specimens of this size are difficult to find.