Fehrite is a recent new species found in Almeria (Spain). Some years ago (2012) we identified this species in the Les Ferreres mine (Camprodon) but unfortunatelly we didn't have enough sample to finish detrmination and structural studies. Recently we found some more samples and the characterization was carried out based on the results obtained from the application of various analytical techniques: SEM-EDS, Raman and X-ray diffraction. Les Ferreres mine is the second locality worldwide for the species. We will send all reports to the buyer.
In this Catalan mine, fehrite appears as elongated elongated tabular to fibrous crystals, with a delicate bluish-green tone, and fibrous terminations. Usually, it is accompanied by devilline (blue) and brochantite (green). It is the magnesium analogue of ktenasite.

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A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Excol. A. Pouget, Excol Joan Rosell. The piece has a treatment that has kept it intact until today.
Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.
Entraigas (Antraigas), Rodés, Avairon, Occitània, Entraigas, Rodés, Avairon, Occitània, França

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Sylvite crystalline aggregate, colorless, transparent and shiny. Specimens of such pure sylvite are not easy to find. This comes from the potassium salt works of the Catalonia basin. Analyzed samples.

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Sylvite crystalline aggregate, colorless, transparent and shiny. Specimens of such pure sylvite are not easy to find. This comes from the potassium salt works of the Catalonia basin. Analyzed samples.

50 €

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Group of analcime crystals, with exceptional size, defined and faceted, with slightly curved edges. With small matrix of volcanic rock. These pieces are very old and difficult to find today. The piece is accompanied by a Marçal Lloria label, by Lloid.

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Sheet of palygorskite, fibrous, laminated, delicate and at the same time resistant, silky and soft, like no other mineral species. It comes from the Magaña area, in Soria, and was acquired by Emili Nicolau from Joan Viñals in 1999. A Spanish curiosity.

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Aggregates of greenish-yellow autunite crystals along with sheets of creamy yellow sabugalite. A classic of radioactive minerals from Spain. With Manuel de Torres label.

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Lorenzenite is a rare sodium titanium silicate found in nepheline pegmatites and syenites. In this specimen we can see a good-sized brown crystal, shiny, defined and arranged aerially on the matrix. With aegirine needle inclusions.

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A very interesting rarity featuring blue-green tsumebite Pb₂Cu(PO₄)(SO₄)(OH) associated with yellow tsumcorite PbZn₂(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O and yellow-green corkite PbFe₃(PO₄)(SO₄)(OH)₆, from the famous locality at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. This piece comes from the collection of Emili Nicolau (Barcelona) and was purchased to David Shannon.

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Very aesthetic lustrous and translucent crystals of this rare lithium-rich red mica, ephesite. This specimen, from the famous Postmasburg finds on a farm in the early 1980s, shows tabular micaceous shape, showing the classic hexagonal cross-section of mica. Translucent to transparent, excellent color. A good representative for the species.

In this specimen we can observe white massive-crystalline aggregates of picromerite K₂Mg(SO₄)₂·6H₂O, along with colourless halite, with iron oxides that give red colors. This is old material so nowadays, it is very difficult to find. Comes from the Nicolau collection (Barcelona).

The specimens that we often see on the market as sylvite or carnallite are usually halite with inclusions of iron minerals. In this case, the specimen has been analyzed indicating that it is mainly sylvite (KCl) with some halite (NaCl) included. The red color is due to inclusions of iron oxydes (hematite). Although it is a salt long exploited in these mines in the Catalan potassium basin, it is a mineral that is sometimes missing from collections.

A very good representative of the rare parisite-(Ce) specimens from the Snowbird Mine in Montana. Several crystals of dark golden-brown, pseudohexagonal parisite-(Ce) with a good size are sitting on feldspar matrix. These pieces came out ca. 1955-56, and are very difficult to find on the market, more in matrix! Parisite is a rare, rare-earth carbonate and the Snowbird Mine is a rare earth pegmatite. With a cluster of gersdorffite. From E. Nicolau collection and purchased to Joan Viñals.

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Old specimen of rhodonite from this Peruvian mine. Formed by parallel growths of tabular crystals, with a soft pink color and shine. With pyrite in matrix.

Group of fluorite crystals with curved edges and faces with tiled growths. Transparent to translucent and with a soft bluish violet zoning. An old sample from this classic Asturian mine.

This interesting sample of kyanite is accompanied by a small label indicating that it is from Santa Marta, in Lugo. The only town like "Santa Marta" would be Santa Marta de Fixós, but we cannot confirm that it comes from that area. Similar pieces have been collected in Muras, also in Lugo.

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Group of neptunite crystals, well developed and rich in faces, bright and arranged on a matrix with white natrolite. The contrast is very aesthetic. It belongs from the Nicolau collection (Barcelona). The formula of neptunite indicates its chemical complexity: KNa₂Li(Fe²⁺)₂Ti₂[Si₄O₁₂]₂

A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

470 €

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This is a rich and a huge size specimen of one of the most unique species in all the mineral kingdom. Cylindrite is a lead, iron, tin, antimony sulfosalt that forms in "cylinder" or "tube" shaped crystals, hence the name. In fact, this species belongs to the only group of minerals that naturally forms rounded, curved or tubular shaped crystals. This specimen is especially nice considering that it is loaded with crystals. The mine at Poopo is the type locality for the species. A museum specimen.

Very good size specimen of dioptase. It is a druse of small but very bright and defined crystals. They stand out from the matrix. From a classic town like Tsumeb. *Getting a camera to extract the color of dioptase is an arduous task...

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Very good-sized specimen of autunite/meta-autunite from this Portuguese locality, formed by numerous crystals of this phosphate that partially cover the quartz matrix. The fan-shaped autunite crystals and have a striking yellow-green color. Under long-wave UV light the fluorescence is intense. A display piece.

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Amazing aggregate of prismatic pyromorphite crystals on a baryte matrix. Many of the crystals are doubly terminated and have a good size. They shows slightly curved faces and edges, are a very brilliant olive-green color on the prism with intense yellow tips. On a baryte matrix with galena (not in quartz as the label indicates). This shape is highly appreciated by collectors. This classic French specimen was purchased by a collector to Fabre Minerals.

750 €

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Classic and colorful large "kidney ore" hematite from this well-known iron mine in Cumbria, in the United Kingdom. Very brilliant brick-red to milky-chocolate (sic) botryoidal aggregates that make up this sculptural specimen. Dotted with small hematoid quartz crystals. An old classic that must belong from the late 19th till mid 20th century, but certainly not found in recent decades.

In this small specimen we can see several well-formed cinnabar crystals, bright and transparent, with an intense colour. They are dotted with small rhombohedrons of dolomite, with quartz and pyrite. A very aesthetic miniature.

Old specimen that shows numerous aggregates of nickelskutterudite crystals, formerly called chloantite. Bright globular aggregates stand out against the metallic matrix. It is accompanied by the handwritten label of Joan Viñals and comes from the Nicolau collection (Barcelona).