Calcite specimens from la Florida mines are known and valued worldwide. Noted for their complex twinned crystals on a prevalent rhombohedra forms, over scalenohedra. In this sample we offer, we have extraordinary crystals in which the predominance of twinned rhombohedrons is very clear and visible. Transparence is excellent, with defined striated faces and edges, undamaged and a visible twin. It has a delicate yellowish tone. It is cleanly implemented on a matrix of dolomite and calcite. A gem of Cantabria, always surprising the collectors for its aesthetics.

Size: 11 x 9.6 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 x 2.2 cm.

Classic locality

Excellent specimen of Asturian fluorite, from the classic Berbes area, formed by a dolomitic matrix with tabular book-shaped baryte crystals, partially coated with quartz and fluorite crystals. Fluorite crystals present very defined cubic shapes, with transparence, brilliance and a uniform purple to violet color. Very aesthetic specimen from thsi classic Spanish locality.

Size: 10.2 x 10 x 7 cm.
Main crystal: 16 x 12 mm.

Classic locality

Good-sized specimen covered with numerous cubic to prismatic fluorite crystals, transparent, brilliant and with aesthetic colour zoning. It has slightly beveled edges. A fine quality specimen from this classic Asturian locality, the specimens of which are highly appreciated by collectors.

Size: 9.8 x 7.2 x 6.3 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm.

White to bluish globular aggregates of arsenocrandallite, accompanied by brown yukonite. These specimens were the first that Joan Viñals analyzed from this classic Murcian mine and that would lead to the discovery of the barahonaite (Al and Fe). With handwritten label.

Size: 7.2 x 5 x 4.1 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Rich group of small pyromorphite crystals, prismatic, hexagonal and truncated by pinacoidal faces. Good color and shine. Examples of this mine are not easy to come by today. The sample is accompanied by the handwritten label of Joan Viñals.

Size: 5.5 x 4.6 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1 mm.

Group of strontianite crystals disposed on the rocky matrix. Joan Viñals's label indicates Bédar bridge, which could be the zone of the mining train bridge. It is accompanied by the handwritten label.

Size: 5.8 x 4.1 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.

Yellowish-green aggregates of beaverite-(Cu), accompanied by globular groups of green osarizawaite crystals. From this classic Spanish mine.

Size: 5.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Col. J. Viñals, Col. E. Nicolau.

Group of baryte crystals, between translucent and transparent, colorless and of good size, one of them standing out. They show faces of the orthorhombic prisms and the pinacoid. The largest one shows beveled edges, with an part contacted by a disapeared matrix. It is accompanied by powdery hematite. It is a sample with many years.

Size: 5.7 x 5 x 4.4 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 7 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

 

Size: 7.3 x 4.7 x 2.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.5 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

 

 

Size: 7.8 x 6.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

 

Size: 9.3 x 5.1 x 4.9 cm.
Main crystal: 1.8 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Fluorite specimens from Sant Marçal mines usually appear as aggregates of cubic crystals, defined, sometimes sprinkled or partially covered by quartz crystals. Yellow to greenish tones are the usual ones. Specimens with violet to bluish or green colors (depending on the type of incident light) are much less frequent and highly appreciated by collectors. These specimens we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. In this specimen we can observe cubic crystals with this bluish to greenish tone, translucent and disposed on a characteristic ochy "pegmatite" matrix. They are partially covered with small but brilliant quartz crystals.

The Sant Marçal mines (also known as Matagalls mines) are located in the Montseny massif, on the eastern slope of the Matagalls peak (1,700 m). Mining works were carried out at 1,250 to 1,350 m of altitude. They were mined until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

 

Size: 7.6 x 5.4 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.6 x 1.4 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Various aggregates of quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, with transparence and brilliance, partially dotted with small reddish globules of hematite, which partially cover a matrix with bluish crystals of fluorite. These specimens that we offer were collected at the beginning of the 70s. The mines were exploited until the mid-90s and have been partially restored. Currently this area belongs to the Montseny Natural Park, so the collection of specimens is totally prohibited.

Size: 4.4 x 4.2 x 2.6 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Classic locality

Good size specimen formed by a matrix with cubic fluorite crystals, colorless and very transparent. They are partially covered by aesthetic white tabular baryte crystals, peppered with small altered pyrite and chalcopyrite, some of them included in fluorite.

Size: 10.5 x 6.6 x 6.4 cm.
Found in ±1997.

Excol. L. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).

Las Cruces mine, northwest of Seville, is an example of mining in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. But it must be said that minerals those have been found there are not at all common in other deposits of this geological megastructure. Exceptional specimens of chalcocite and djurleite stand out from this mine. This specimen we offer is a magnificent specimen of the latter species, djurleite (an orthorhombic copper sulfide). We can observe aggregates formed by several idiomorphic crystals with octahedral shape and a metallic gray luster. They are disposed on a matrix formed by other copper and iron sulfides. As is usual in these specimens and has already been indicated in previous studies, these crystals may correspond to phases of djurleite/chalcocite. In this case we have carried out an X-ray diffraction that confirms it is djurleite.

Size: 4.2 x 3.3 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ±2011.

Col. Andrés Jiménez Shelly (Madrid).

Scolecite and aerinite specimens from this Aragonese area are known worldwide. This specimen shows us groups of acicular crystals forming radiated aggregates in the dolerite and that, when extracted, allow us to see their internal arrangement perfectly. White in color, with iron oxydes patina, and good brilliance. Samples of this quality and size are not common and even less so today.

Size: 10 x 7 x 5.1 cm.
Main crystal: 12 mm. aggreg.

Tabular lanceolated crystals of baryte, translucent in the core and opaline in the outer areas, interpenetrated and brilliant. They are disposed on a matrix formed by small siderite crystals and layering septarian cavities. An Aragonese mineral curiosity.

Size: 7.3 x 6.5 x 6.2 cm.
Found in 08/2014.

Tabular lanceolated crystals of baryte, translucent in the core and opaline in the outer areas, interpenetrated and brilliant. They are disposed on a matrix formed by small siderite crystals and layering septarian cavities. An Aragonese mineral curiosity.

Size: 7.3 x 6.1 x 5.7 cm.
Found in 08/2014.

Group of twinned dolomite crystals of good size, peppered by numerous bright, golden cubic pyrite crystals that give the specimen a special touch. They are not common in this classic Spanish mine. The piece belongs from the collection of Andrés Jiménez Shelly (Madrid) and is accompanied by an handwritten label.

Size: 6 x 4.3 x 4 cm.
Found in 1986.

Col. Andrés Jiménez Shelly (Madrid).
Classic locality

Smoky quartz crystal with parallel growths, bright, translucent, with intense smokiness and microcline. The quartz crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 6.4 x 3.2 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ±2004.

Smoky quartz crystals in parallel growth. Translucent, with a uniform smoky tone, they alternate glossy and matt faces. The quartz crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 7.4 x 4 x 3.8 cm.
Found in 04/2001.

Smoky quartz crystal on a microcline matrix. Translucent, with a uniform smoky tone, it alternates brilliant and matte faces. The quartz crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 5.1 x 3.1 x 2.8 cm.

Microcline crystals in parallel growth. They show faces of the Baveno twin. The microcline crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 5 x 2.6 x 2.4 cm.
Found in ±2004.

Microcline crystal with muscovite inclusions. It presents faces of the Baveno twin. The microcline crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 4.5 x 4.3 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ±2004.

Microcline crystal with muscovite inclusions. It presents faces of the Baveno twin. The microcline crystals from this quarry are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. Currently works are abandoned and it is difficult to find new specimens.

Size: 4.7 x 4 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ±2003.