This specimen presents a good size nodule, with an internal part with septaria structure, completely covered by very brilliant and transparent green crystals of this rare iron and calcium phosphate. In this specimen we can observe some white aggregates of fluorapatite. Anapaite nodules from the Bellver de la Cerdanya area are a classic of the Catalan and European mineralogy. The materials where these nodules appear are part of the filling of a deep lake of the upper Miocene that developed in the southern part of the Cerdanya basin.

 

Size: 9.4 x 9 x 6 cm.
Found in 2018.

Classic locality

This specimen presents a good size couple of nodules, with an internal part with septaria structure, completely covered by very brilliant and transparent green crystals of this rare iron and calcium phosphate. It is not frequent find double specimens. Anapaite nodules from the Bellver de la Cerdanya area are a classic of the Catalan and European mineralogy. The materials where these nodules appear are part of the filling of a deep lake of the upper Miocene that developed in the southern part of the Cerdanya basin.

Size: 14 x 9.5 x 6.5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Classic locality

This specimen presents a good size nodule, with an internal part with septaria structure, completely covered by very brilliant and transparent green crystals of this rare iron and calcium phosphate. In this specimen we can observe some crystals with tabular shape, of beige tone, those can correspond to messelite. Anapaite nodules from the Bellver de la Cerdanya area are a classic of the Catalan and European mineralogy. The materials where these nodules appear are part of the filling of a deep lake of the upper Miocene that developed in the southern part of the Cerdanya basin.

Size: 9.5 x 8.5 x 5.5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Classic locality

Rich group of trapezohedral crystals of analcime, very bright and transparent, partially covering a cavity in the volcanic rock. They are accompanied by small yellowish globules of smectite. From this classic Spanish locality.

Size: 5.6 x 4.7 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2 x 2 mm.

Nowadays, graphite specimens from this classic Asturian locality are very difficult to be found. These specimens show contiguous columns, with greasy luster and defined hexagonal forms. The crystal habit of natural graphite in most cases is determined by its highly anisotropic, layered structure. However, anomalous habits of graphite, determined not only by its structure, but also by the peculiarities of the growth environment, are frequently encountered.

Size: 6.0 x 3.2 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ±1985

Nowadays, graphite specimens from this classic Asturian locality are very difficult to be found. These specimens show contiguous columns, with greasy luster and defined hexagonal forms. The crystal habit of natural graphite in most cases is determined by its highly anisotropic, layered structure. However, anomalous habits of graphite,determined not only by its structure, but also by the peculiarities of the growth environment, are frequently encountered.

Size: 10.5 x 3.6 x 3 cm.
Found in ±1985

Rich group of small hexagonal prismatic pyromorphite crystals with an intense green color partially covering a quartz matrix. Crystals are very sharp and color very uniform. From a Spanish locality not well represented in collections.

Size: 4.8 x 4.5 x 4.0 cm.

Col. Jordi Povill
Classic locality

The label of this specimen reads "Sevilla". In the catalog of the Manchion collection it is mentioned that this piece of schorl-dravite was acquired to Dr. Joan Viñals, at the Granollers fair in 1988. For that reason, in the absence of more info, we will leave this wonderful Andalusian region as its origin. M. Calvo talks about tourmalines in pegmatites from the Los Ángeles mine, near El Castillo de las Guardas, in Seville.

Size: 4.5 x 3.8 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1988.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No. 399. J. Viñals, 1988.

Good specimen formed by various manganese oxides, with tabular crystals of pyrolusite forming brilliant rosettes, on botryoidal aggregates of romanèchite-pyrolusite. A good old piece. Acquired by Sr. Manchion in the former minerals fair held in 1985 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, close to Barcelona.

Size: 7.8 x 6.2 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5 x 4 mm. aggr.
Found in ±1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No.137, 1985.

Rich druse of fluorite crystals. This kind of octahedral crystals show a special brilliance due to the multiple growths of small crystals on the faces of the octahedron. This fact gives them a rough surface. Translucent, with good green color and good size. The Berta quarry-mine is in the process of filling and restoration. Not oiled. An old specimen ca. 1985, from Manchion Collection.

Size: 13.0 x 6.5 x 4.4 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 8 mm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Interesting example of goethite with a richness and very remarkable intense iridescences. From the classic mines of Riotinto; collected in 1985, accompanied by old label.

Size: 9.5 x 7.4 x 3.2 cm.
Found in 1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No.162.

Chrysotile fibrous veins in serpentinized marble from this classic Catalan locality.

Size: 5.0 x 4.2 x 3.6 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. J.M. Manchion (Barcelona). No. 552.
Classic locality

This specimen is not a "museum specimen" but for the collectors of this "territory" it has a very good memories. It is a tourmaline, sometimes dravite other schorl, of the pegmatites of the Collserola range, in the area of Tibidabo-Sant Pere Màrtir, in the city of Barcelona. It is one of those pieces that we can not do without if we like our mineralogy. With old label.

Size: 4.5 x 3.2 x 3.0 cm.
Main crystal: 9 x 4 mm

Col. J.M. Manchión (Barcelona). No.164. 03/1985.

This specimen shows a very sharp celestine crystal of good size, "lanceolated", with several defined rhombohedron faces, translucent and with a visible sky blue color. It is disposed on a matrix with calcite scalenohedral crystals. Celestine crystals from this locality are very appreciated by the collectors of Spanish minerals for their color, brilliance and definition of the faces. Nowadays it is not easy to find crystals with this size and quality from this locality.

Size: 6.8 x 5.0 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 15 x 6 mm.

Group of sphalerite crystals with very marked parallel and polycrystalline growths, with the predominant forms of the tetrahedron, slightly curved in faces and edges, transparent to translucent and brilliant. Toasted honey color. With the light on the backside it lights up in intense orange (see photo).

Found in 1980's.

Col. J.M. Manchión (Barcelona). No.77, 03/1984.

Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Size: 6.8 x 6.5 x 3.8 cm
Found in 2015.

Analyzed specimen with report

Good size... Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite and manganese oxides, probably asbolane. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Size: 8.5 x 7.5 x 5.2 cm.
Found in 2015.

Analyzed specimen with report

Perovskite is an very unusual species, if we add that crystals are in good condition, damage free, and that they were collected in a locality of close to Madrid, the species becomes even more interesting... In this piece highlights a group of perovskite crystals between toasted honey to yellowish tones, cube-shaped, translucent and brilliant. One of them with a good size for the locality. They are accompanied by aggregates of octahedral magnetite crystals. A rarity. Specimen has been repaired consolidating a fissure of the matrix, not afecting crystals.

Size: 6.9 x 3.8 x 2.4 cm.
Main crystal: 3 x 2 mm.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de M., Barcelona) No. 3673. - Repaired

These are the most fine quality romanèchite specimens ever found in Spain. These botryoidal aggregates show the velvet surface formed by several small romanèchite/pyrolusite crystals (see SEM photo). These specimens has not been treated, only fresh water. Romanèchite shows in fresh fracture the classic grey color. You can observe small but brilliant crystals of pyrolusite on the stalactitic surface. Analysis will be send to the buyer.

Size: 4.3 x 4.3 x 3.6 cm.
Found in 2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

These specimens are showing a complete pseudomorph of digenite (trigonal, Cu9S5) after pyrite (cubic, FeS2). We can see that crystals preserve the original cubic shape, with slightly curved edges and faces partially covered with greenish-colored malachite. A Spanish curiosity for pseudomorph lovers.

Size: 5.2 x 2.8 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5 x 4 mm.
Found in 2017.

These specimens are showing a complete pseudomorph of digenite (trigonal, Cu9S5) after pyrite (cubic, FeS2). We can see that crystals preserve the original cubic shape, with slightly curved edges and faces partially covered with greenish-colored malachite. A Spanish curiosity for pseudomorph lovers.

Size: 5.1 x 4.4 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3 x 3 mm.
Found in 2017.

Very curious specimen of dolomite from this classic Navarrese locality, which shows a rich group of rhombohedral crystals, some with small negative rhombohedron faces and very sharp edges. They are partially coated with manganese oxides that give them a black and dull surface. This kind of specimens are very unusual in collections.

Size: 7.8 x 6.3 x 4.9 cm.
Main crystal: 18 x 17 mm.

These specimens of orange-colored baryte are a classic of the mineralogy of the La Unión-Cartagena area. This piece stands out for the intense brightness and a marked color zoning, which shows banded zoning on the tabular crystals, those form aesthetic rosettes. Very elegant specimen.

Size: 4.5 x 4.3 x 3.3 cm.

Rich group of galena crystals those show facets of the cube, octahedron and dodecahedron in the edges. Very bright and interpenetrated, with a good size. They are accompanied by small crystals of quartz and pyrite. Specimens from these classic mines are difficult to see today. These mines are located in the mining area of La Carolina; the village of El Guindo is located about 8 kilometers from La Carolina, on the road to the also mining town of El Centenillo. The town is located next to the mine shafts of El Guindo and La Manzana, which constituted two of the most important works in the area.

Size: 9.5 x 8.0 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 25 x 25 mm.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de M.) No. 2096
Classic locality

Nowadays galena specimens from this Catalan mine are very difficult to be found. This piece of good size is formed by a compact group of galena crystals, with dominant octahedral faces very visible, together with some of the cube. It shows fissures due to the own tensions of the specimen, but that do not affect (they even add interest) to the sample. It is accompanied by dolomite and calcite. A Spanish classic from a classic collection.

Size: 11.5 x 6.5 x 5.0 cm.
Main crystal: 7.3 x 4.2 cm.

Col. Jordi Povill No. 2016
Classic locality