A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

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A novelty from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2022. These specimens come from a recent find in this mining area of the Black Forest and are reminiscent of those found decades ago in this area. They show radial aggregates of extremely brilliant pyrolusite crystals that partially replace manganite. By X-ray diffraction we have been determined the presence of both species, even with a certain predominance of manganite. They usually appear on a matrix of pink granite or as groups of large crystals in parallel growth. In the specimens we can observe the inclined flattened terminal faces. They are highly aesthetic pieces those will become part of the best specimens of these species for European mineralogy. We will send the XRD to the buyer.

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Aesthetic globular aggregate of thomsonite-Ca, with a slightly bony tone and disposed in a basalt vacuole lined with small phillipsite crystals. Arensberg phillipsite crystals contain both potassium and calcium, and in some crystals calcium is dominant. A very good specimen for this German locality, little represented in collections.

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This is another one of those specimens from old collections, as evidenced by the various accompanying labels, that contain discredited or dubious mineral names. Even so, the historical and scientific interest it presents has made us offer it.
In the piece we observe a core of galena with halos of alteration of the vein in the socket. In the cavities we find numerous well-formed crystals of cerussite. And in some areas we observe greenish and honeyed tones probably corresponding to pyromorphite, but also to possible scorodite. The 'ganomatite' is considered a scorodite with impurities, while the pitticite is a questionable species formed by amorphous hydrated iron arsenate. Although this last mineral is currently accepted, it is questioned.

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This is one of the rare borates determined in Kohnstein quarry. The crystals, sharp and well defined, are completely transparent, colorless, large for the species and on matrix. It comes from this currently inactive quarry in the Harz mountains.

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Very rich specimen formed by several hydroboracite crystals, with a very elongated prism and well-defined faces and edges. Totally colorless, transparent and with an extraordinary brightness. A piece of the best quality for the species. It belongs from a currently inactive quarry in the Harz mountains.

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Specimen rich in Co-ore on which various proustite crystals stand out. Very faceted and transparent, which allows us to see the red color of this silver sulfosalt. A photograph of this specimen, from Volker Betz, was image of the day in mindat (Photo of the Day - 7th Oct 2012). A very remarkable piece for this German mine.

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Very rich group of harmotome crystals filling a vacuole in the volcanic rocky matrix. Rich also in faces, with brilliance and between transparent like the smaller ones, and translucent the larger ones. Idar-Oberstein is known as a city of precious stones with traditional workshops those work agate, jasper, quartz, etc. A specimen of very good quality for this locality, nowadays difficult to find. With old label.

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These German mines have produced some of the best specimens of silver and allargentum from European mines. A good-sized piece, we can see aggregates of this silver and antimony species showing rounded forms. Disposed very aerial on a calcite matrix. With good luster and bronze reflections. With safflorite. It belongs from a Spanish collection, and we will send the handwritten label to the buyer.

Rich group of complex and brilliant chalcopyrite crystals contrasting on a matrix of barite crystals. They are accompanied by interpenetred rhombohedral dolomite crystals. The specimen belongs from the Dreislar mine, a mine that was operated from 1970 to 2007, with the usual interruptions, for lead, zinc and copper, and more modernly for baryte. The specimens are classics in German collections.

A typical polished slice of 'Federpyrit' (variety "feather pyrite"), with a good size. This is a pseudomorphs of pyrite after thin tabular pyrrhotite. Classic specimen from Pfaffenberg, an ancient German lead-silver mine. With siderite. Very appreciated for European collectors.

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From a classic German locality: Alberoda bei Aue. This locality is known by its silver sulphosalts, but not well represented in collections. This good sized specimen is very rich in brilliant stephanite crystals and some reddish pyrargyrite.

Deep red eleonorite crystal aggregates with some delvauxite on limonite. Classic sample from Rotläufchen mine near Waldgirmes, Hesse, type locality for the species. Closely related to beraunite and forms by oxidation of the latter.

From this classic German locality, Grube Clara, we get this specimen formed by aggregates of acicular crystals of sellaite, an unusual magnesium fluoride.

Old specimen of native arsenic, forming botryoidal aggregates, with an intense gray color slightly bronze. These specimens were known locally as "scherbenkobalt" (pieces of cobalt). Note that this mine is the Type Locality of the annabergite. A difficult German mineral classic to find from this locality, an old silver and cobalt mine, worked from around 1650 until 1852 and reworked between 1856 and 1859.

A classic old-time pyromorphite specimen, showing acute hexagonal prisms of beige colour to colorless, brilliant and satin-wet look, forming aesthetic rosettes on the quartz matrix. This specimen is from the famous Rosenberg mine, in Bad Ems, Germany, closed since 1963. It is accompanied by a typed label by Juan Montal, a well-known Catalan mineral dealer from Vilafranca del Penedés (Barcelona), who was active in the middle of the s. XX until the 1980s. The piece is very good for the locality and the label full of history. An European classic.

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Solid cluster of intergrown nickelskutterudite (formerly called chloanthite) from the historic Schlema-Hartenstein District. Chloanthite is now regarded as an arsenic-deficient variety of nickelskutterudite or simply as a synonym for nickelskutterudite. Nowadays is very complicate find specimens of this size and quality. Complex crystals, bright, with faces... A piece highly valued by mineralogists. From the Type Locality. Formerly in the collection of Gerd Resag. Only for "deep & dark collectors".

A classic pyromorphite specimen of excellent quality, rich in hexagonal prisms, very well defined, with the typical beige-brown color of the specimens of this German locality. Translucent to transparent. Matrix is formed by quartz crystals which makes the phosphate stand out in a very aesthetic way. It is accompanied by chalcopyrite. One reason to select this specimen from the Daunis collection is the old label of Juan Montal, a well-known Catalan mineral dealer from Vilafranca del Penedés (Barcelona), who was active in the middle of the s. XX until the 1980s. The piece is very good for the locality and the label full of history.

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Very interesting specimen for its unusual chemistry, this is a hidrated calcium sulphite: CaSO3·H2O. It shows several aesthetically lanceolated laminar to prismatic crystals, well defined, with brilliance, transparence and colourless. From the 1983 discovery and collected by Dr. Kurt Reiss. From the Jim Thomas collection. Note: Type locality.

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A halite crystal with an intense blue color, phantom, from an old classic German locality: Stassfurt. The startling blue tone seems unreal. Halite specimens are rarely found with these bluish colors. With an interesting spherical inclusions (see pictures). The color is due to atomic lattice defects, not due to inclusions or impurities. An old specimen.

Rich group of chalcopyrite crystals, very brilliant, of intense luster and gold to bronze tones. They stand out for the richness of crystal facets, that show us very defined sphenoidal forms, some dipyramids and basal pinacoids, complex but identifiable. To enjoy crystallography... A specimen of a German locality not well represented in collections.

The galena specimens from this classic German mine are known for the size of the crystals and twins. In this sample both characteristics are fulfilled. We can observe interpenetrated crystals according to the spinel twin law and other crystals shoewing the cube and octahedron faces. On matrix with tetrahedrite crystals partially covered by brilliant chalcopyrite and some siderite. They stand out for their size and quality. On a matrix with pyrite and siderite crystals.
This piece is from the collection of Renaud Vochten (1933-2012), a well-known Belgian collector of mineralogical rarities and it was in the collection of the University of Gent. An unusual opportunity to get an excellent sample of this classic European mine.

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Aesthetic crystals of bournonite, twinned, with echeloned growths, very bright and sharp. They are disposed on a matrix with lenticular siderite crystals. It is hard to find samples of this classic German locality. If on hand they are all brilliance, under loupe crystals are amazing.

Rich group of globular aggregates of mimetite, with an intense orange color. Good size. It comes from an area of the German Black Forest where nowadays it is forbidden collect minerals.

Rich group of globular aggregates of mimetite, with an intense orange color. It comes from an area of the German Black Forest where nowadays it is forbidden collect minerals.