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 intense 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. With smoky quartz as host rock and matrix. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

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.

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 intense 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. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

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.

Very exceptional group of bastnäsite-(Ce) crystals. Good size, defined faces and edges, transparence, brilliance... And perfectly disposed on a dolomite crystal matrix with talc. A rare opportunity to obtain a top quality specimen of this REE carbonate from this classic French talc quarry.

Very exceptional group of bastnäsite-(Ce) crystals. Good size, defined faces and edges, transparence, brilliance... And perfectly disposed on a dolomite crystal matrix. A rare opportunity to obtain a top quality specimen of this REE carbonate from this classic French talc quarry.

This specimen shows stalactític aggregates of rhodochrosite with a pink color. They are accompanied by brilliant botryoidal kentrolite, with a deep black color. It is a rare lead and manganese silicate. Nice specimen for the species and dedicated to systematic and French collectors.

This specimen is showing a very rich group of allanite-(Ce) crystals, disposed randomly on a cavity covered by dolomite and calcite. This mineral with Rare Earth Elements (REE) is a classic for this French quarry, in the Pyrenees. It shows very elongated prismatic crystals, with transparence and brown to toasted honey tones.

In this specimen we can observe a group of quartz crystals, one of them dominant, with well defined faces and edges. We see a well-developed prism with rhombohedral terminal faces and a possible small trapezohedron face. Transparence and brilliance are both excellent and with a very uniform smoky tone. It is not easy to find specimens of alpine smoky quartz at reasonable prices, without nicks, and less with this size.

Group of very sharp flattened parallel growth of quartz crystals. Very transparent, with an excellent brilliance, transparence and with a visible "faden" growth that crosses it tip to tip.
It comes from a very recent find in the alpine valley of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, in France, near Italy and they could be considered between the best faden quartz crystals in Europe.

Group of very sharp flattened parallel growth of quartz crystals. Very transparent, with an excellent brilliance, transparence and with a visible "faden" growth that crosses it tip to tip.
It comes from a very recent find in the alpine valley of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, in France, near Italy and they could be considered between the best faden quartz crystals in Europe.

Group of a parallel growth of very sharp flattened quartz crystals. Very transparent, with an excellent brilliance, transparence and with a visible "faden" growth that crosses it tip to tip.
It comes from a very recent find in the alpine valley of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, in France, near Italy and they could be considered between the best faden quartz crystals in Europe.

Group of very sharp flattened parallel growth of quartz crystals. Very transparent, with an excellent brilliance, transparence and with a visible "faden" growth that crosses it tip to tip.
It comes from a very recent find in the alpine valley of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, in France, near Italy and they could be considered between the best faden quartz crystals in Europe.

No, it is not a Spanish aragonite, it is French. This specimen shows various crystals twinned and interpenetrating each other. They have a good brilliance and some transparence and color varies between from brown, reddish to colorless. With small red quartz crystals (Jacinto de Compostela), giving it a distinctive touch.  Dedicated to aragonite collectors.

No, it is not a Spanish aragonite, it is French. This specimen shows various crystals twinned and interpenetrating each other. They have a good brilliance and some transparence and color varies between from brown, reddish to colorless. Peppered by small red quartz crystals (Jacinto de Compostela), giving it a distinctive touch. Huge size. Dedicated to aragonite collectors.

A specimen very rich in aggregates of acicular prismatic  pyromorphite crystals with an uniform green color and silky luster. On a quartz matrix. A French classic from old "times".

A specimen very rich on aggregates of acicular prismatic  pyromorphite crystals with an uniform green color and silky luster. On a quartz matrix. A French classic from old "times".

A specimen very rich on aggregates of acicular prismatic  pyromorphite crystals with an uniform green color and silky luster. On a quartz matrix. Good display size. A French classic from old "times".

Exceptional hyaline quartz crystal showing a developed prism with marked horizontal striations on faces and excellent terminal rhombohedral faces. Very sharp, perfect transparence anb best brilliance. Acompanied by a small matrix with dolomite rhombohedra. Specimen is better on hand than in pictures. This sample was collected from the dolomitic vugs of the Trimouns Talc quarry.

Recent mineral find and novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. An rich and aesthetic group of prismatic cerussite crystals, with white color, translucent, brilliant, very acute and complex terminations and good size. With striated faces. Contrasting very aerial on the matrix.

The lead and silver mine of Lescure was worked in Roman times and there are documents from the late eighteenth century telling us about these mines. Although "serious" mining operations are confirmed from 1808-29 until its closure in 1951. These specimens are known in long crystals, and since the 90s had not been obtained pieces of this quality. Today the mine is closed and collapsed (Le Règne Mineral, 85, 2009).

Recent mineral find and novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. A very rich group of prismatic cerussite crystals, with white color, translucent, brilliant, very acute and complex terminations and good size. With striated faces. Contrasting very aerial on the matrix.
The lead and silver mine of Lescure was worked in Roman times and there are documents from the late eighteenth century telling us about these mines. Although "serious" mining operations are confirmed from 1808-29 until its closure in 1951. These specimens are known in long crystals, and since the 90s had not been obtained pieces of this quality. Today the mine is closed and collapsed (Le Règne Mineral, 85, 2009).

A single and sharp crystal of bastnäsite-(Ce) showing tabular hexagonal shape. They show a good transparency and color that varies between yellow-green to orange-brown, depending on the type of the light that strikes them. Accompanied by corroded allanite-(Ce) as usual in this paragenesis. This specimen is from a French worldwide classic mine for Rare Earth Elements (REE) species: Trimouns. Currently it is not easy to find bastnäsite-(Ce) specimens from this mine and with this crystal size.

Gem quality allanite-(Ce) specimen, with a good size, elongated and showing well defined faces and edges. It is embedded in the matrix of calcite with brilliant talc. Transparency and luster are excellent and shows a zoning toasted honey color, with green pleochroism visible depending on light. It is accompanied by other smaller crystal similarly defined and transparent. The area where I extracted no longer exists, when quarry has been extended. A piece of Rare Earths (REE) of a classic French locality, aesthetic and not easy to be found nowadays.

Excellent and rich group of prismatic zinkenite crystals, some of them with a good size, with striated faces, with a huge size chalcocite crystal with planar to curved terminal faces. Good metallic luster and well disposed on a vug with lenticular siderite crystals. Usually they occurs covered by calcite. A hig quality specimen from this species and locality.

Group of very sharp fluorite crystals showing cubic forms and trapezohedron faces on some vertexs. Well defined faces and edges, transparent to translucent. Yellow color is uniforms, with curious internal colorless structures, and some siderite crystals on them. A huge size specimen from this French mine.

Rosettes of sharp hexagonal tabular autunite crystals, interpenetrated between them and some isolated. The intense yellow color is characteristic of the species. Crystals are disposed on a pegmatite matrix. This is a sample extracted from Vénachat area late 70's and comes from a reduced extension pegmatite field embedded in granite, near Compreignac. Traces of workings from the 19th century can be found, beside an open pit worked for uranium by COGEMA in 1982-1987. A good quality French historical specimen.

On a barite matrix are disposed several brilliant and very sharp pyromorphite crystals with a very interesting deep olive-green color. They have grow in divergent directions. Some of the crystals are isolated, with an elongated prism. Very interesting under stereomicroscope, we can see excellent crystal growths. Really nice specimen. A classic between classics from this well known french mine closed in 1981. A great opportunity for pyromorphite and old classic mineral collectors.