This specimen is totally different from those that we usually see in the market of this Moroccan locality. The matrix is a group of quartz crystals, with a soft amethyst tone, and partially covered with chalcedony, in tiny, shiny crystals. On this matrix there is a large group of goethite crystals, lanceolate, dark brown in color and also covered with chalcedony. But millimeter quartz crystals stand out above them, most of them doubly terminated. I had never seen specimens that looked like this. Very interesting.

Size: 9.6 x 6.5 x 4 cm.

A very good size specimen of skutterudite, with well defined and very brilliant crystals. With quartz crystals. A nice showcase specimen.

 

Size: 12.5 x 6.7 x 6 cm.
Found in ±2019.

Classic locality

A very good sized specimen of skutterudite, with well defined and very brilliant crystals. They are accompanied by aesthetic aggregates of lanceolated saffflorite crystals and quartz. A display fine specimen.

Size: 7.9 x 7.2 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm.
Found in ±2019.

Classic locality

Divergent aggregates of good sized acicular to prismatic goethite crystals. They are accompanied by black globular aggregates that, once analyzed, have turned out to be a first generation of goethite. It is accompanied by small aggregates of green conichalcite crusts, also analyzed. The specimen shows a fissure that has been consolidated, without affecting its stability and aesthetics.

Size: 8.3 x 5.6 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm. glob.
Found in ±2000.

Classic locality

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.

Size: 5.2 x 4.1 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ± 1976.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona). cv.

Very rich specimen formed by several white (transparent) acicular crystals of picropharmacolite and pharmacolite, accompanied by velvety pinkish Mg-rich erythrite-hörnesite mixed with them. Some sinfeldite crystal aggregates are present. On matrix. Collected in Bou Azer mine in february 2018. Analyzed by SEM-EDS.

Size: 9 x 4.4 x 4.1 cm.
Found in 02/2018.

Classic locality

Erythrite tabular crystals, with intense purple colour and brilliance. About matrix.

Size: 3.8 x 2.8 x 1 cm.
Found in ca. 1987.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

Tabular metazeunerite crystals, of a pale green color, forming aggregates in a cavity of the matrix. On one of these aggregates, an aggregate of pale yellow methanováčekite crystals is disposed. It belongs from this classic Moroccan mine. The uranium-rich zone (vein 2) of the quarry had been covered.

Size: 3.9 x 3.2 x 1.9 cm.
Found in ca. 2006.

Presents radioactive activity.

Botryoidal aggregates of coronadite, with greasy luster and color between deep dark gray to almost black. It is a very old specimen from this Moroccan locality. Not easy to find samples from this mine in the market. With the Montal typed label.

Size: 7.5 x 7.2 x 6 cm.
Found in 1997.

Col. M. Marí & A. García, #0.095

Very aesthetic stalactite of goethite totally covered with sharp lanceolated pyrolusite crystals, disposed in a very aerial shape, with an intense luster, colour between metallic gray to almost black. A notable specimen for the species and the locality.

Size: 6.8 x 3.5 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm.

Very rich specimen formed by several white (transparent) acicular crystals of picropharmacolite and pharmacolite, accompanied by velvety pinkish Mg-rich erythrite mixed with them. Some sinfeldite crystala ggregates are present. On a nickelskutterudite matrix. Collected in Bou Azer mine in february 2018. Analyzed by SEM-EDS.

Size: 7.8 x 6.8 x 5.5 cm.
Found in 02/2018.

Analyzed specimen with report

Very rich specimen formed by several white (transparent) acicular crystals of picropharmacolite and pharmacolite, accompanied by velvety pinkish Mg-rich erythrite mixed with them. Some sinfeldite crystala ggregates are present. On a nickelskutterudite matrix. Collected in Bou Azer mine in february 2018. Analyzed by SEM-EDS.

Size: 6.8 x 6.7 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 02/2018.

Analyzed specimen with report

Druse of roselite crystals, with good color and defined forms. They are accompanied by pink crystals of cobaltoan calcite.

Size: 5.5 x 5 x 3.5 cm.

Rich group of fan-shaped tabular erythrite crystals in parallel growth; very brilliant, of intense color and disposed very aerial on the matrix with quartz crystals. A fine specimen from Bou Azer.

Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.

Aesthetic specimen formed by numerous isolated wendwilsonite crystals of good size, very well defined, some of them doubly terminated, with an intense and reddish tone. Some of them partially covered by a whitish patina only on certain faces, selectively. They are disposed on a matrix with calcite and dolomite crystals.

Size: 9.6 x 6.4 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 2 mm.
Found in 2017.

These are brilliant aggregates of gold formed by numerous crystals rich in faces, curved faces and disposed on a matrix of quartz. The SEM-EDS analyzes show that this gold contains a small percentage of silver (<1% weight). They are accompanied by fibrous aggregates of malachite and gray bornite crystals. This specimen stands out for the contrast between the brilliant gold and the green/gray matrix. An exceptional piece. Bleida is a mine located on the eastern rim of the Bou Azzer district.

Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm.
Found in 01/2018

A very aesthetic specimen that shows a vug in the matrix, partially covered by tabular lanceolated crystals of erythrite with a good size. They are disposed very aerial in elegant radial aggregates. Intense color and transparence. A sample of very good quality and that under increase makes us enjoy these arsenates.

Size: 7.7 x 5.5 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.2 cm.

Rich group of roselite crystals, with an intense color and good transparence. The analyzes indicate that it does not contain Mg and for the shape of the crystals everything indicates that it is roselite. Accompanied by calcite scalenohedral crystals and globular aggregates of green cobaltaustinite.

Size: 7.4 x 6 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Analyzed specimen with report

Rich group of roselite crystals, with an intense color and good transparence. The analyzes indicate that it does not contain Mg and for the shape of the crystals everything indicates that it is roselite.

Size: 8 x 6.5 x 5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Analyzed specimen with report

From what has been analyzed, Imini pyrolusites are partially replaced by manganite. This specimen is not at all common, since it shows us shapes in sheaf that remind us the German manganite specimens. Intense black color, very defined crystalline aggregates, with some isolated crystals... An exceptionally rare sample. On baryte matrix.

Size: 8.4 x 6.5 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 4 mm.
Found in 2017

Interesting specimen formed by several aggregates of tabular talmessite crystals, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates of slightly curved faces and edges. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of small slightly pink crystals of calcite (Mn), on matrix. We'll send a the analysis to the buyer.

Size: 6.8 x 4.8 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm. aggr.
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Interesting specimen formed by several talmessite aggregates, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates formed by several small crystals. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of slightly pink calcite (Mn). We'll send a the analysis to the buyer.

 

Size: 7.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm. aggr
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Interesting specimen formed by several aggregates of tabular talmessite crystals, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates of slightly curved faces and edges. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of small slightly pink crystals of calcite (Mn), on matrix. We'll send a the analysis to the buyer. 

Size: 5.7 x 5 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 5 mm aggr.
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Vladimirite specimens from Aït Ahmane are among the world's best for the species. It is a rare arsenate that forms aesthetic rosettes of tabular to fibrous crystals, very sharp and colorless. They are accompanied by white aragonite and pink talmessite and erythrite. These specimens were found in the walls near the entrance of the galleries of the 53rd vein of this Moroccan mine. Good sized sample. The SEM-EDS analysis will be sent to the buyer.

Size: 6.3 × 4.2 × 4 cm
Main crystal: 2 mm.
Found in ± 2008

Analyzed specimen with report

Very curious globular aggregates formed by prismatic crystals that vary their composition according to the zone, although the XR diffraction study shows that it is talmessite, without discarding that in some parts of the aggregate a higher cobalt content is observed. These aggregates are disposed on a matrix of cobaltoan calcite, together with manganese oxides. Very interesting.

Size: 6.8 x 5.5 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 11 mm aggr.
Found in 2018.