Titanian hydroxylclinohumite porphyroblasts with white-greyish diopside and antigorite serpentinite. The varietal name titanoclinohumite (older literature uses the name "titanolivine" for this variety) is commonly used to indicate Ti-bearing hydroxylclinohumite found in metamorphosed serpentinites. A very interesting specimen from unusual locality for the species.

Size: 6.7 x 5.2 x 4.3 cm.

Ex col. Erich Laskowski

Specimen of hydromagnesite formed by various globular aggregates of lanceolated and transparent crystals of this magnesium hydroxylcarbonate. They stand out for their contrast with the ophiolitic rocky matrix. It is not very common to find specimens from this Italian locality.

Size: 5.7 x 4.4 x 3.4 cm.

The chabazite-Ca specimens from this Italian locality present aggregates of orange lenticular crystals. The aesthetic is very remarkable when contrasting in the vacuoles of the basaltic matrix. They are accompanied by phillipsite, analcime, minerals from the smectite group, and calcite. Under magnification we can observe the vacuoles with the different minerals, an entertainment.

Size: 6.8 x 4.8 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm glob.

The chabazite-Ca specimens from this Italian locality present aggregates of orange lenticular crystals. The aesthetic is very remarkable when contrasting in the vacuoles of the basaltic matrix. They are accompanied by phillipsite, analcime, minerals from the smectite group, and calcite. Under magnification we can observe the vacuoles with the different minerals, an entertainment.

Size: 7.8 x 6.2 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm. glob.

Radiated spray aggregates of fine dawsonite crystals, a rare aluminum sodium hydroxylcarbonate. They aredisposed on a marl matrix. They come from a known area for the species but from a new find.

Size: 7 x 5 x 1.8 cm.
Found in 2021-22.

The Cyclopean Isles is a small volcanic archipelago off the coast of Aci Trezza, in the Etna volcanic complex. They are the type locality for the analcime species, which we can see in this specimen. This old time sample from the Freiberg Bergakademie shows us vacuoles with idiomorphic analcime crystals accompanied by colorless, well-defined thomsonite-Ca prisms those have grown on the analcime. The two labels give clear testimony to the antiquity of the specimen. A true mineralogical curiosity.

Size: 8.2 x 4.5 x 3.1 cm.
Main crystal: 2 mm.
Found in ±1860.

Freiberg Bergakademie
Type Locality

Various groups of octahedral spinel crystals, very well defined, brilliant and with an intense black color. They are disposed on a matrix of volcanic rock with forsterite. This is a very representative specimen for the species and for this classic Italian locality. It belongs from various collections. Good size and quality for the species.

Size: 6.8 x 5.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm.

Excol. Panunzi (Itàlia); Excol. Imma Punzo; Col. E. Laskowski (USA)
Classic locality

The Monteponi phosgenite specimens are a classic of European and worldwide mineralogy. This specimen shows us two differentiated zones. One with a group of phosgenite crystals in parallel growth accompanied by a well defined prismatic crystal. Translucent and with the classic honey gray tone. They are disposed on a galena matrix with numerous anglesite crystals. This specimen belongs with the label of the René Hubin collection (Belgium).

Size: 7.2 x 5.8 x 4.1 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.

Col. René Hubin (Neupré, Belgium).

Rich group of radiated natrolite crystals, transparent to translucent, very bright and disposed on a vacuole of basaltic rock. It is not easy to find specimens with this quality and from this Italian locality. Specimen from the collection of Rolando Gallina.

Size: 8.4 x 7.4 x 7 cm.

Col. Rolando Gallina (Itàlia).

Specimen of anhydrite formed by numerous prismatic to tabular crystals, well defined and interpenetrated. On the back we can see the matrix formed by dolomite and brilliant pyrite crystals. Specimens from this Italian mine, located north of Boccheggiano, were collected at the end of the 20th century. The mine worked from the early 1980s, currently the mine is closed.

Size: 11 x 5.3 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.3 cm.

Druse of analcime crystals, very brilliant, transparent, and with very well-defined faces and edges. A specimen of fine quality for this Italian locality.

 

Size: 7 x 4.8 x 4.4 cm.
Main crystal: 4.5 mm.

Ex. Max Caldera

Brilliant specimen formed by a druse of defined tarpezohedral crystals of grossular, hessonite variety. Intense color, shine and transparence. With the handwritten label from the Joan Astor collection, indicating that this specimen was purchased at Expominer mineral show to Benvenuti Gianni.

Found in ±1979.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).

In a tuff andesitic volcanic rocky matrix we can observe several cavities that contain aggregates of colorless, bright clinoptilolite crystals. Specimens from this Italian locality are not common.

Size: 6.7 x 5.6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 mm.

Specimens from this locality, located in the south of the island of Sardinia, are very rare on the market. This specimen is formed by cavities lined with prismatic barrel-shaped crystals. Intense green to yellowish color. The piece comes from the Manchion collection and was acquired from Dr. Joan Viñals in 1989.

Size: 6.1 x 4.1 x 2.9 cm.
Found in ±1989.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

Very good specimen of epidote from this classic Alpine Italian locality. Several epidote crystals with a yellowish green color, with transparence and very well defined. They are accompanied by numerous prismatic crystals of diopside, also very well defined, with transparence, brilliance and a very characteristic olive green color. Good size and quality specimen for display. It belongs from the former collection of Ezio and Manuela Bernabé, with the typewritten label, we will send with the piece.

Size: 9.6 x 5.1 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.

Col. Ezio & Manuela Bernabé (Riccione, Italia).
Classic locality

Exceptional very good sized specimen of humite, a rare magnesium fluorosilicate, from the type locality for the species: Monte Somma. In the piece we can see numerous crystals of an orange tone, defined and some with rounded shapes, brilliant and with transparence. They are accompanied by micaceous phlogopite crystals and white aggregates of sodalite.
Humite is a species closely related to norbergite, chondrodite and clinohumite. These minerals are very difficult to distinguish. Humite appears to have a smaller field of stability than clinohumite, chondrodite and norbergite. Humite is often associated with one or more of the other species of the humite group, as intergrowths.

Size: 7.3 x 5.3 x 2.6 cm.

Type Locality

Brilliant specimen formed by a druse of defined tarpezohedral crystals of grossular, hessonite variety. Intense color, shine and transparence. It is accompanied by groups of green clinochlorine crystals.

Size: 5.2 x 4.1 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm.

Very brilliant pyrohedron cluster, of good size and with well defined faces and edges. With some hematite brilliant lamellar crystals. From this classic Italian locality. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 5.4 x 4.4 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 2.2 cm.
Found in ± 1975.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona). cv.
Classic locality

Very brilliant pyrohedron cluster, of good size and with well defined faces and edges. From this classic Italian locality. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 4 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm.
Found in ± 1974.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona). cv.
Classic locality

Very aesthetic specimen from this classic Italian mine. Several magnetite crystals with dodecahedron forms, some of them very interestingly distorted crystalography, with intense luster and very well defined. It is accompanied by octahedral pyrite crystals. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.8 x 7.3 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1.3 cm.
Found in ± 1978.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

A brilliant specimen of epidote, brilliant, transparent, richly faceted crystals with a very aesthetic olive green color. With some diopside crystals. The beauty of these specimens is incomparable for the species. It comes from the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and typewritten box.

Size: 7.3 x 4.7 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 1.2 cm.
Found in ± 1978.

Col. Joan Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Pyrite specimens from the Elba Island are an Italian classic. But specimens of pyrite, richly faceted, sharp and brilliant included in serpentine are very rare. Undammaged. The label of this specimen indicates that it comes from this famous island. It belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten and typewritten label.

Size: 6.4 x 6.1 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 1.1 x 1.3 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

Radial aggregates of ludwigite crystals, a rare magnesium iron borate. It is accompanied by pyrite. Usually many of these specimens have been acidified, this is not the case. It belongs to the collection of Joan Astor, with a handwritten label.

Size: 7.8 x 5.3 x 2.4 cm.
Found in ±1979.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

Diopside specimens from Castellaccio are difficult to find today. They show aggregates of radiated prismatic diopside crystals with a lavender hue due to manganese content. It is the best known species found in rodingite (a metasomatic rock) from this Italian quarry. Various analyzes have shown the presence of Co (0.5% by weight in CoO) and Mn (1.5% by weight in MnO). Associated minerals include perovskite, grossular, andradite, magnetite, titanite, apatite, pyrrhotite, and calcite (Bedognè et al., 2006). With an interesting label, from the Naïf mineral dealer (Bormio), but I have not found more information about.

Bedognè, F., Montrasio, A., Sciesa, E. (2006): I minerali della medio-alta Valtellina delle Orobie e della Val Poschiavo. Aggiornamenti sulle altre località della provincia di Sondrio. Tipografia Bettini, Sondrio, 255 pp.

Size: 7.5 x 5.1 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 1.3 cm.
Found in ±1975.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.

These Italian calcite specimens were labeled, decades ago, as vaterite, a polymorph of calcite and aragonite. Hexagonal shapes, with well-defined, flattened and interpenetrating crystals, led to this assumption. They were obtained from a excavation works that revealed a large fissure filled with gneiss blocks of various sizes cemented by crystallized calcite. This calcite appeared as milky white pseudohexagonal prismatic crystals. This specimen belongs to the Joan Astor collection (Barcelona), with a handwritten label and another typewritten.

Size: 7.2 x 5.5 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.2 x 0.9 cm.
Found in ±1976.

Col. J. Astor, Barcelona.