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In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...
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.
Probably čechite specimens from the "Rasa de l'Alzina" open pit works could be considered between the best crystals for the species worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and developed pinacoidal faces. They are disposed on a fluorite matrix. This finding is close to the Maria Magdalena mine, near of the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia).
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the čechite crystal surface we found copper content, but inside the crystal is near to pure PbFe2+(VO4)(OH), with minor Zn(II). In most specimens from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free.
Specimen formed by small rounded crystals of smithsonite, with an intense pink color. These specimens stand out for the town and its intense color. The mine is now closed and in the process of restoration to make a part visitable.
These specimens were found in a outcrop close to Maria Magdalena mine, close to the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia). Probably, these crystals are the most defined crystals of Čechite worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and pinacoidal faces. Disposed very aerial on a fluorite matrix.
Čechite is very rare lead iron vanadate that is only found in a few places in the world and it is the first citation in the Iberian peninsula.
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the crystal surface there is Cu2+ has been formed but the crystal is pure PbFe2+(VO4)(OH). In most specimens (all) from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free. We will send more details to the buyer.
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.
In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...
In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver, with showy wire to skeletal growths and metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite crystal aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Nowadays it is very difficult find specimens, only from old collections...
Probably čechite specimens from the "Rasa de l'Alzina" open pit works could be considered between the best crystals for the species worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and developed pinacoidal faces. They are disposed on a fluorite matrix. This finding is close to the Maria Magdalena mine, near of the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia).
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the čechite crystal surface we found copper content, but inside the crystal is near to pure PbFe<sup>2+</sup>(VO<sub>4</sub>)(OH), with minor Zn(II). In most specimens from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free.
Probably čechite specimens from the "Rasa de l'Alzina" open pit works could be considered between the best crystals for the species worldwide. They are brilliant, black color and show a tabular shape defined by different order orthorhombic prisms and developed pinacoidal faces. They are disposed on a fluorite matrix. This finding is close to the Maria Magdalena mine, near of the beautiful town of Ulldemolins (Tarragona, Catalonia).
SEM-EDS and EPMA analysis show that, in some cases, on the čechite crystal surface we found copper content, but inside the crystal is near to pure PbFe2+(VO4)(OH), with minor Zn(II). In most specimens from other localities the presence of manganese is important, but these specimens are Mn free.
In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver. They show skeletal growth, with an metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection.
In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver formed by small but brilliant crystals. They show skeletal and arborescent growth, with an excellent metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates but some of them very brilliant, curious. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection. Last specimens.
This specimen is from my old field trips to the El Molar (Tarragona) area. In this sample we combine rhodonite (more granular appearance, crystalline) with pyroxmangite (more compact appearance). Accompanied by black veins of todorokite. The tephroite, scarce, appears as patches of brownish tone in the manganese oxydes. These differentiations rhodonite-pyroxmangite are indicative, both minerals usually appear mixed.
It is an old mine we call generically as Serrana mine, although in fact there are two different mines, with two separate dumps, one corresponding to the actual Serrana mine (with horizontal works), while the other (closest to the river and with vertical works) would be known as Manganese mine.
This specimen is from my old field trips to the El Molar (Tarragona) area. In this sample we combine rhodonite (more granular appearance, crystalline) with pyroxmangite (more compact appearance). Accompanied by black veins of todorokite. The tephroite, scarce, appears as patches of brownish tone. These differentiations rhodonite-pyroxmangite are indicative, both minerals usually appear mixed.
It is an old mine we call generically as Serrana mine, although in fact there are two different mines, with two separate dumps, one corresponding to the actual Serrana mine (with horizontal works), while the other (closest to the river and with vertical works) would be known as Manganese mine.
A very aesthetic specimen formed by a large group of silver crystals and filaments, forming spongy and skeletal growths. Good luster and a slightly tan tone. Stresses this specimen by several factors. One is its size and weight (on 40 g. or 1.4 oz.). Another is the abundance of this noble metal and perhaps the most interesting is that it is not an acidified sample. This is a plate obtained from a natural fissure in the host rock, with a lenticular and flattened structure. A very different piece from this classic Catalan locality.
This specimen shows one way how silver occurs in Balcoll mine. We note that into the fissures in the limestone have grown numerous skeletal aggregates formed by silver crystals showing well defined forms of the octahedron. Good luster and a bronze patina tone. Accompanied by groups of cubic crystals of acanthite with staggered growths and deep black color. A very representative sample from a classic locality for the Catalan mineralogy.
A very aesthetic specimen formed by several groups of cubic silver crystals with a skeletal shape. They show defined octahedral and cubic faces. The color varies from white to bronze. Accompanied by acanthite aggregates with a darker color. These specimens come from a classic Catalan locality for the species.
In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver formed by small but brilliant crystals. They show skeletal and arborescent growth, with an excellent metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection.
A very rich specimen of silver from a classic locality for the Catalan mineralogy. In this sample we could enjoy several groups of very sharp brilliant skeletal silver crystals. They are accompanied by acanthite aggregates of darker color. The specimen has been acidified with care since usually silver specimens become dark, but in this case, and looking at the date of collection, we can foresee a long stability. The label indicates that this material was mined in 1905, but the specimen was collected in 1998.
Druse of cubic fluorite crystals with yellow color. With some transparence to translucent. On the crystals we can observe different baryte aggregates formed by tabular white crystals. This specimen is notable for its locality where it is uncommon to find this association. A sample for fluorite and/or Spanish classic localities.
A weakness, I admit. A cube-octahedral complex galena, defined edges, with polysynthetic growths on (111) faces. In one of them we can observe tiny crystals of pyrite and dolomite.
It comes from one of the classic mines of Catalonia: the Règia mine. In this mining area, occasionally, we could find small specimens but usually less defined. An opportunity to get a specimen from a classic Spanish locality.