hese specimens are showing a complete pseudomorph of digenite (trigonal, Cu9S5) after pyrite (cubic, FeS2). We can see that crystals preserve the original cubic shape, with slightly curved edges and faces partially covered with greenish-colored malachite. A Spanish curiosity for pseudomorph lovers. We will send analysis to the buyer.

Size: 4.2 x 3.8 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 3 x 3 mm.
Found in 2017.

Analyzed specimen with report

Aesthetic aggregate of very sharp tabular marcasite crystals, brilliant, with very well defined faces and edges. A couple of breaks that are not easy visible, but complete in my opinion. On quartz matrix.

Size: 8.2 x 6.2 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 17 x 10 mm.
Found in 2017.

Specimen of a little-known locality. These sample shows aggregates of silver crystals, with an intense luster and tones between white and golden. They are disposed on a matrix with quartz and iron oxides with which they contrast.

Size: 6.4 x 4.8 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 8 mm.
Found in 08/2011

This placer mining sample is from the Type Locality for the species. Under the loupe you can see several small nuggets of this alloy, accompanied by several black magnetite (octahedron), epidote... Awaruite is natural iron-nickel alloy with compositions within Ni3Fe-Ni2Fe range. Some of these nuggets have been analyzed by SEM-EDS and show a near perfect Fe:Ni 1:3 (see details attached).

"Awaruite was first described by Skey (1885) as constituting a sample of heavy black sand given by alluvial miners to the Government Warden of the Jackson's Bay District, South Island, New Zealand". From Skey, W. (1885), Trans. N.Z. Inst. 18:401-2.
For more info read this article related to the name...[online]
Rodgers, K.A., Hey, M.H. (1980): On the type locality and other occurrences of awaruite (FeNi3) in Westland, New Zealand. Miner. Mag. 43:647-650.

 

Size: Aluvial grains.

Mineral analizado - Analyzed species
Type Locality

Interesting specimen formed by several aggregates of tabular talmessite crystals, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates of slightly curved faces and edges. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of small slightly pink crystals of calcite (Mn), on matrix. We'll send a the analysis to the buyer.

Size: 6.8 x 4.8 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm. aggr.
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Interesting specimen formed by several talmessite aggregates, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates formed by several small crystals. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of slightly pink calcite (Mn). We'll send a the analysis to the buyer.

 

Size: 7.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 10 x 9 mm. aggr
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Interesting specimen formed by several aggregates of tabular talmessite crystals, standing out on the calcite matrix. In order to confirm the species, we carried out a chemical analysis using SEM-EDS, which confirms the presence of Ca and Mg and the almost absence of Co, consistent with talmessite or wendwilsonite. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction confirms talmessite. Performing this structural (XRD) and compositional analysis (SEM-EDS) allows us to delimit the species. Spheroidal aggregates of slightly curved faces and edges. Color and luster are magnificent for the species and contrast on a base of small slightly pink crystals of calcite (Mn), on matrix. We'll send a the analysis to the buyer. 

Size: 5.7 x 5 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 5 mm aggr.
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of smoky quartz crystals on a matrix of microcline crystals covered by albite. They present some nick but for me it is a very good and historical specimen. From a classic Catalan locality and from the Daunis collection (Barcelona).

Size: 10 x 9.5 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 5.5 x 2.8 cm.
Found in ±1970.

Col. Daunis (Barcelona)
Classic locality

Celestine crystals from this locality are very appreciated by the collectors of Spanish minerals for their color, brilliance and definition of faces. This specimen shows several celestine crystals of good size, acute, with well defined faces, transparent to translucent and with a visible sky blue color. They are disposed on a matrix with calcite crystals. Nowadays it is not easy to find crystals with this size and quality from this locality.

Size: 12.4 x 8 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 26 x 11 mm.

Col. Jordi Povill (Olesa de Montserrat, Barcelona)
Classic locality

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".

Size: 11.5 x 8.8 x 3.6 cm.
Main crystal: 5 mm. aggr.
Found in ±1960.

Col. Gerd Resag (Germany)
Classic locality

Rich groups of radiated celestine crystals, from this Spanish classic locality. This mine is also known as Rica mine. Good size and aesthetic specimen.

Size: 6.6 x 6.4 x 5 cm.

Classic locality

A very aesthetic cluster of prismatic, lustrous and gemmy, ice-blue baryte crystals with minor calcite from the named Leeson Pocket at the famous Stoneham locality of Colorado. The form is excellent and the largest crystals are doubly terminated. This fine piece is from the major 1989 finds and purchased to E. Kucera (Barcelona). Nearly pristine, only one crystal on the periphery is broken. An excellent specimen, uncommon in the market. A really interesting article in Rocks and Minerals available here.

Size: 6 x 3 x 2 cm.
Main crystal: 53 x 12 mm.
Found in ±1989.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. #477, 1989 Kucera.
Classic locality

Two crystals of elbaite in parallel growth. Intense color, with greenish transparence on the upper part. Striated prismatic faces with very clear terminal rhombohedrons. A little gem...

Size: 3.8 c 1.2 x 0.6 cm.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona.

Prismatic crystal of bicolored elbaite, with striated faces and defined terminal rhombohedrons with pinacoid. With white clevelandite.

Size: 3 x 1.5 x 1 cm.
Main crystal: 30 x 5 mm.

Group of prismatic crystals of elbaite in parallel growth, with striated faces in the prism and defined terminal rhombohedral faces, some fractured. Transparence, brightness and very uniform pink color. A nice gem.

Size: 3.5 x 1.8 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 3.2 x 0.8 cm.
Found in ±1990.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. Nr. 608.

Group of hyaline quartz crystals, well developed and defined, with some curious crystals of fluorapatite, with a marked geometrical color zoning and inclusions. Theya re accompanied by brilliant pyrite crystals on muscovite and siderite.

Size: 9.5 x 8.5 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 8 mm. F-ap
Found in ±1980.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona.
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Nice specimen formed by rosette aggregates of rhodochrosite, with a delicate pink tone, accompanied by tetrahedrite and chalcopyrite crystals. On a matrix with quartz.

Size: 7.5 x 6.8 x 5.8 cm.

Very aesthetic fan-shaped groups of transparent hemimorphite crystals, with a very good brilliance and excellent terminations. Accompanied by small aggregates of yellow greenish mimetite crystals. On a limonite matrix.

Size: 9 x 4 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 14 x 4 mm
Found in ± 2004.

Col. M. Marí (Castelló).
Fluorescent under long wave UV

This piece is formed by several interpenetrated lenticular yellowish crystals of magnesite, accompanied by dolomite rhombohedrons on matrix. We especially note the rare richness of magnesite crystals in the sample. Good sized and from a classic Spanish locality.

Size: 9.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 15 x 12 mm.
Found in ±1998

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Very rich linarite specimen of this classic Chilean locality. With crystals of good size, defined and transparent, intense color and good size. Analyzed.

Size: 8.5 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.

Curious specimen of a classic locality formed by numerous galena cube octahedrons. They have very defined forms, idiomorphic crystals but hollow inside. They upholster the dolomite matrix. for lovers of the curiosities from Moroccan mines. An old sample.

Size: 8.8 x 7.5 x 5 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm.
Found in ± 1987.

Classic locality

Specimens from this Australian mine are unusual today. In this sample we have a group of azurite crystals pseudomorphized by malachite, preserving very well defined faces and edges. They are disposed on a goethite matrix partially coated with malachite, chrysocolla and small yellow crystals of wulfenite.

Size: 8.2 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 18 x 17 mm.
Found in ±1985.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona. Nr. 190, 1985 Expominer.

Vladimirite specimens from Aït Ahmane are among the world's best for the species. It is a rare arsenate that forms aesthetic rosettes of tabular to fibrous crystals, very sharp and colorless. They are accompanied by white aragonite and pink talmessite and erythrite. These specimens were found in the walls near the entrance of the galleries of the 53rd vein of this Moroccan mine. Good sized sample. The SEM-EDS analysis will be sent to the buyer.

Size: 6.3 × 4.2 × 4 cm
Main crystal: 2 mm.
Found in ± 2008

Analyzed specimen with report

Rich cluster of smoky quartz crystals on a matrix of microcline crystals covered by albite. They present some nick but for me it is a very good and historical specimen. From a classic Catalan locality and from the Daunis collection (Barcelona).

Size: 10.5 x 8 x 6 cm.
Found in ±1970

Col. Daunis (Barcelona)
Classic locality

Rich group of intense green color pyromorphite crystals with color zoning. From a locality unusual in collections. With Joan Viñals label and analyzed.

Size: 9.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm.

Col. J.M. Manchion, Barcelona.