On a recent trip to this mining area, we found these new specimens with incredible aesthetics. They were found in a singular cavity, opened in the depths of a 24-meter well, in Coud'a shafts. They have a more than exceptional brilliance, probably due to a last phase of crystallization in which a thin layer of almost transparent vanadinite was deposited. Crystals are very well defined, with staggered axial growths in the prism and with color zoning, more orange than red. Vanadinites from the Mibladen area are well known worldwide and although we have seen many of them, they never cease to amaze us. Exceptional specimens!

Size: 18 x 10 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 2.4 cm.
Found in 02/2020.

Classic locality

Galena crystals from the Mibladen mines are not easy to see today, least of all with this definition. They are cubic crystals, with well-marked faces and edges. Some interpenetrated, some very aerial. They are arranged on a matrix with baryte rosettes.

Size: 10 x 4.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 6 mm.
Found in ca. 1980.

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

Specimen of azurite with a very special, intense color, formed by numerous small crystals, very brilliant. On baryte matrix. They belong to the mine that exploits the immense Marabout vein, located in the north of Sidi Ayed. The coordinates of the mine are 32°53'23''N, 4°38'33''W. Near from Mibladen but in the other side of the mountains.

Size: 6.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm.
Found in 02/2018.

Globular aggregates formed by lamellar crystals of theisite. With a bluish to green color and brilliance. On a dolomite matrix with barite and chalcopyrite. This mineral species is the second citation in Spain. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Accompanied by several azurite, transparent, bright, well-defined and some doubly terminated. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.

Size: 8.6 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
Found in 2013.

Analyzed specimen with report

In this specimen we can observe some groups of tabular wulfenite crystals of intense, very intense orange color, showing defined faces and parallel growth. If anything distinguishes these wulfenite crystals is its vivid color. The brilliance is excellent and in thin areas show transparence. Some of the dominant crystals are disposed very aerial and accompanied by groups of barite crystals. If you observe closely the specimen under the microscope you will see numerous perfect tabular crystals of wulfenite. Very aesthetic specimen.

Size: 7,5 x 5,7 x 4,0 cm.
Main crystal: 1.7 cm.
Found in 01/2013.

On a druse of quartz crystals we can enjoy numerous aggregates of hematite crystals with a hexagonal to rounded shape and conical growth, very curious, with brilliance and brown to reddish color. These specimens come from a fortuitous find in an area very close to the well-knoewn town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. An aesthetic rarity.

Size: 6 x 3 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3-4 mm.
Found in 2000.

On a druse of quartz crystals we can enjoy numerous aggregates of hematite crystals with a hexagonal to rounded shape and conical growth, very curious, with brilliance and brown to reddish color. These specimens come from a fortuitous find in an area very close to the well-knoewn town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. An aesthetic rarity.

Size: 6.2 x 3.5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 3-4 mm.
Found in 2000.

Gemmy, transparent to translucent, colorless crystals of anglesite. It shows a parallel growth of dipyramidal anglesite crystals, so rare from Tsumeb! On a matrix with dark gray to black mineral, possibly one of the manganese oxides. Very unusual. It was acquired to Bailey Minerals (Ángel Jesús Talabán García, Segovia 1942-Madrid 2007).

Size: 6.5 x 2.8 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1976.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq.Bailey (Madrid).
Classic locality

Superb cerussite specimen from this worldwide classic locality. It shows a cyclic twin, with some more developed crystals, very brilliant, between translucent to transparent, with a very aesthetic pinkish red tone. It presents a second generation of prismatic type cerussite crystals that have grown locally on some faces. Very aerial and with a small matrix. It was acquired in 1975 from Bailey Minerals (Ángel Jesús Talabán García, Segovia 1942-Madrid 2007). A very aesthetic and good size piece.

Size: 6 x 5.6 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 4 cm.
Found in ca. 1975.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq.Bailey (Madrid).
Classic locality

A historical specimen of this classic mine. Various tabular baryte crystals peppered by small but brilliant and well-shaped cinnabar crystals. These specimens are very difficult to find today.

Size: 8 x 5.6 x 4 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).
Classic locality

Very interesting blue-violet to lavender aggregates of johillerite, on matrix, and accompanied by black hematite crystals. Johillerite is a extremelly rare arsenate with sodium, copper and magnesium+zinc: Na(Mg,Zn)3Cu(AsO4)3. Only three localities worldwide: Tsumeb (TL), slags from Genna (Germany) and the Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka. Johillerite forms a continuous solid-solution system with badalovite and nickenichite. Johillerite samples were obtained from the fumaroles of the North Breach of the great fissure Tolbachik volcano eruption (1975-1976). Cone took 44 days to form.

Size: 4.5 x 3.2 x 3 cm.

Aggregate of brown prismatic crystals of this rare niobium and tantalum silicate found in the alkaline pegmatites of the Khibiny Mountains, in this remote area of the Kola Peninsula. It is accompanied by pink aggregates of schizolite, an intermediate member of the pectolite-serandite series, and of lamprophyllite. Identified by Dr. D. Lisitsin.

Size: 5.6 x 3.8 x 2.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.7 cm.

radiated aggregate of prismatic scolecite crystals. Translucent to transparent and intergrown. A classic from India.

Size: 6.5 x 5 x 4 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. Suministros escolares.

On a sandstone matrix some yellow crusts of coconinoite formed by small tabular to micaceous crystals. This sample has been analyzed by SEM-EDS and we will send the results to the buyer.

Size: 8.2 x 7.4 x 4.2 cm.

Presents radioactive activity.

Good sized prismatic crystal of corundum, ruby variety. Formed by an elongated prism, staggered and truncated by the shapes of the pinacoid. With small muscovite.

Size: 3 x 1.7 x 1.6 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Corundum crystal of the ruby variety formed by an elongated prism and truncated by the forms of the pinacoid. Good color and size. From this classical Indian locality मैसूर, कर्नाटक, भारत.

Size: 3.7 x 1.2 x 1 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

The specimens of this species have been known since ancient times as pseudomorphic kyanite after andalusite. Both species are polymorphic, so substitution is not a rare case. The label says "Santiago de Compostela", but from what we have investigated, it is the area of the Conceilhos de Touro and O Pino, to the E. of Santiago, where for decades this material was worked as kyanite. A piece with history ...

Size: 3.5 x 2 x 1.9 cm.
Found in ca. 1980.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

Good-sized azurite crystal from this classic Moroccan mine. It shows very defined and bright faces and edges, with an intense blue color. It presents a small nick in the upper part but almost invisible. Good specimen indeed.

Size: 4 x 1.6 x 0.8 cm.

Classic locality

A very aesthetic miniature, but with an exceptional color variation. Between red, blue, green and yellow. A delicatessen from Brazil, referenced in Joan Astor's published work in issuu, that we recommend you visit and browse.

Size: 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1976.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. Lapidis.

Prismatic elbaite crystal, of an intense color, with the defined pinacoidal face truncating the prism. The label indicates that it comes from South Africa, but we are not aware that specimens like this have been found in this part of the world. A miniature gemmy piece.

Size: 1.2 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm.
Found in ca. 1973.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).

A very interesting specimen of topaz, in which we can see striated faces on the prism, truncated by pinacoids, very unusual. Transparence, brilliance and with the handwritten label from the Astor collection indicating "negative" faces. This piece was adquired to the well-know Catalan dealer Jordi Figueras, one of the suppliers of the Folch collection.

Size: 4.5 x 3.4 x 2.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1978.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. J. Figueras.

Group of beryl var. heliodor crystals, very brilliant, with an excellent transparence and a very uniform yellow color, real color. Many facets visible. A gem from this very famous and historic location.

 

Size: 2 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm.
Found in ca. 1990.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona).
Classic locality

A rubellite gemmy specimen, of intense color, with defined faces, transparent to translucent. A variety of red tourmaline, rich in Li and with minor Fe and Mg. It belongs from this classic Mozambican locality, an outcrop of granitic pegmatite where many exotic minerals have been identified in fluid microscopic inclusions.

Size: 2.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 cm.
Found in ca. 1976.

Col. J. Astor (Barcelona). Adq. Montal (Vilafranca del Penedès).

Rich group of azurite crystals, with well-defined crystallographic forms, some of them doubly terminated. Intense and characteristic blue color and very brilliant. They are disposed on a matrix accompanied by well defined cerussite crystals, between translucent to transparent, with duftite. From this classic African mines.

Size: 6.5 x 6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.6 cm.

Classic locality

Specimen of beryl aquamarine variety, with good thickness and size. Very transparent, delicate bluish color, with developed prism faces and with terminal faces of the dipyramid truncated by the pinacoid. A gemmy piece.

Size: 3.5 x 3 x 2.7 cm.