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. An exceptional piece, for "gray" mineral collectors, that nowadays is very difficult to get.

Size: 8.7 x 6.3 x 5 cm.
Found in ±2011.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 9.6 x 7 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 7.8 x 6.4 x 2.1 cm.

Bavenite specimens from Cadalso de los Vidrios are a classic of the Spanish mineralogy and it had been a long time since pieces of this aluminosilicate of beryllium and calcium had been seen. On a matrix with quartz, albite, and microcline, we can observe several aggregates of tabular, transparent, and very bright crystals forming aesthetic rosettes, accompanied by small crystals of pyrite and laumontite.

Size: 6.8 x 5.3 x 1.9 cm.

The Sant Fost willemite appears in small crystals with a pseudohexagonal prismatic habit (twinned), with striated faces. All of them are sub-millimetric in size and form druses of crystals with a resinous or adamantine luster, with colors ranging from dark brown to honey-yellow, or they may appear colorless and transparent. In Sant Fost the willemite appears associated to a sphalerite vein together with silicates (quartz and clays), calcite, fluorite, and baryte. Willemite is fluorescent under SW-UV light. Very unusual locality for the species.

Size: 3.8 x 1.7 x 0.9 cm.
Found in 2021.

Con análisis / With analytical report
Fluorescent under short wave UV

This is one of the few samples obtained in our last studies in this quarry. We saw a mica-like platy crystals, with a pearly luster and hexagonal form. The results of the different analytical techniques indicated that it was surite (SEM-EDS, EPMA, XRD, Raman). It is accompanied by cerussite, fluorite (purple), baryte and galena.
Surite is a very rare species based on a cerussite-like layer intercalated with a 2:1 layer of smectite. Can Rovira is the second locality in Europe and one of the few localities worldwide.

Size: 3.9 x 3.7 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ±2020.

Analyzed specimen with report

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.

Size: 2.9 x 2.1 x 0.8 cm.
Found in ±2019.

Analyzed specimen with report

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.

Size: 1.4 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm.
Found in ±2019.

Analyzed specimen with report

Although it is a massive specimen, we can see the pyrrhotite with bronze luster with inclusions of black magnetite. It is not a very common species for the locality. It belongs from the Astor collection. For Spanish locality collectors.

Size: 5 x 4.2 x 3 cm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Very good sized specimen of cyclically twinned aragonite. It belongs from the Manchion collection.

Size: 6 x 5.2 x 5.2 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

A specimen from this classic locality in Malaga where groups of pyrite crystals have been totally replaced by goethite (limonite). A Spanish reference.

Size: 8.8 x 5 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2.3 cm.
Found in ±1991.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona).
Classic locality

Excellent specimen, with a good size, of granatite with vugs filled by epidote crystals, on which olive green fibrous aggregates of uralite stand out. The most remarkable are several well-formed crystals of scheelite, a species difficult to find locally, highly fluorescent under short-wave UV. It belongs from the Manchion collection and it was acquired from Joan Viñals in 1990.

Size: 6.9 x 6.8 x 4.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3.2 mm. sch.
Found in ±1990.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Fluorescent under short wave UV

Group of cubic fluorite crystals, brilliant, transparent and yellow in color with zoning. Fluorescent under LW-UV light, with an interesting zoning. Dotted with small pyrite crystals and rhombohedral calcite. From this classic Asturian mine.

Size: 6.5 x 4.4 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.
Found in ±1991.

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

These celestite specimens are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They were found decades ago in fissures in the carbonate marls of Els Esbornacs area (Catalan word meaning fissures produced by landslides), in the Plana de Vic. They occur as orthorhombic prismatic crystals, transparent to translucent, bright and with a very characteristic greyish-blue color.

Size: 6.4 x 5 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

These celestite specimens are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They were found decades ago in fissures in the carbonate marls of Els Esbornacs area (Catalan word meaning fissures produced by landslides), in the Plana de Vic. They occur as orthorhombic prismatic crystals, transparent to translucent, bright and with a very characteristic greyish-blue color.

Size: 8 x 3.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

These celestite specimens are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They were found decades ago in fissures in the carbonate marls of Els Esbornacs area (Catalan word meaning fissures produced by landslides), in the Plana de Vic. They occur as orthorhombic prismatic crystals, transparent to translucent, bright and with a very characteristic greyish-blue color.

Size: 9 x 6.2 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

These celestite specimens are a classic of Catalan mineralogy. They were found decades ago in fissures in the carbonate marls of Els Esbornacs area (Catalan word meaning fissures produced by landslides), in the Plana de Vic. They occur as orthorhombic prismatic crystals, transparent to translucent, bright and with a very characteristic greyish-blue color.

Size: 6 x 4.4 x 3.2 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ±1980.

Classic locality

Very interesting specimen from this old Roman mine located between Cármenes and Villamanín (León, Spain), which was later exploited for copper until the end of the 20th century. These are botryodal aggregates of chrysocolla replacing tyrolite. A rarity of this Leonese mine.

Size: 7.6 x 7.3 x 5.4 cm.
Found in ±1998.

Col. M. Marí - A. García (Castelló)
Classic locality

Specimens of huntite from this classic Catalan locality are hard to see. Huntite occurs by filling cavities in a matrix of ampelitic shales. It is a carbonate of calcium and magnesium, powdery in appearance, snowy white in color. It is accompanied by small acicular crystals of very bright aragonite. Huntite was identified by XR diffraction in Montcada hill quarry in the late 1990s (Cendón et al. 1997; link).

Size: 9 x 8.5 x 6.7 cm.

Classic locality

Specimens of huntite from this classic Catalan locality are hard to see. Huntite occurs by filling cavities in a matrix of ampelitic shales. It is a carbonate of calcium and magnesium, powdery in appearance, snowy white in color. It is accompanied by small acicular crystals of very bright aragonite. Huntite was identified by XR diffraction in Montcada hill quarry in the late 1990s (Cendón et al. 1997; link).

Size: 10.5 x 5.4 x 5 cm.

Classic locality

This old specimen belongs from the classic Atrevida mine, in the south of Catalonia. It is a botryoidal concretion of aragonite with a slight greenish blue hue. Nowadays is strictly forbiden collect minerals in this Natural Park. From the Manchion collection (Barcelona), with handwritten label of Soler i Pujol old label.

Size: 6.1 x 4.2 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Group of pyromorphite crystals with a brownish green color, with very well defined hexagonal shapes and well defined faces and edges. It comes from a classic Spanish mine and from which good quality specimens have come out.

Size: 3.2 x 3 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 7.8 mm.

Classic locality

Group of pyromorphite crystals with a brownish green color, with very well defined hexagonal shapes and well defined faces and edges. It comes from a classic Spanish mine and from which good quality specimens have come out.

Size: 4 x 2.7 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5.2 mm.

Classic locality

Group of pyromorphite crystals with a brownish green color, with very well defined hexagonal shapes and well defined faces and edges. It comes from a classic Spanish mine and from which good quality specimens have come out.

Size: 3.3 x 2.1 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

Classic locality

Group of pyromorphite crystals with a brownish to green color with zoning, with very well defined hexagonal shapes and well defined faces and edges. On rocky matrix. It comes from a classic Spanish mine and from which good quality specimens have come out. An aesthetic miniature.

Size: 4 x 3.2 x 1.9 cm.
Main crystal: 3.5 mm.

Classic locality