Aggregates of rhombohedral flattened rhodochrosite crystals, with an intense pink color. They are arranged on a sphalerite matrix.

Size: 8 x 6 x 5.5 cm.

Rich group of so called arsenatian vanadinite showing defined edges and curved faces, barrel-shaped and many of them doubly terminated, with the characteristic color of this variety. These samples appeared on the market in the late 1970s as pyromorphite, until they were correctly determined by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. This specimen has been analyzed, just for info, showing As 3%weight and 8.7% in V. Old specimen, nowadays rare to find.

Size: 7.5 x 7 x 6.5 cm.
Main crystal: 7 x 4 mm.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

Rich group of cubic fluorite crystals, very sharp, transparent and with a greenish to yellow tone very characteristic of these fluorites. This specimen is from the mines of Sant Marçal (also called of the Matagalls Mt.), located in the massif of El Montseny. Nowadays not many samples are seen with this quality. A classic of the Catalan Mineralogy.

 

Size: 9 x 8 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2.7 x 2.3 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Very aesthetic specimen of kinoite from this famous American mine. It is a druse formed by small crystals of this rare silicate of calcium and copper, very characteristic of this mine, which are partially covered by brilliant and transparent crystals of Hydroxyapophyllite-(K). We also observe the kinoite as darker globular aggregates. Pure aesthetics and brightness. The best kinoites came out for a short time in the 70s from this Arizona mine, and specimens show up only rarely on the market.

Size: 7.3 x 5.5 x 4.8 cm.
Found in ±1975.

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

Rich group of sharp fluorite crystals, cubic, with polysynthetic growths on the faces. The colour between violet to bluish-grayish, unusual in this mine. Translucent, allowing to see the color zoning. Good size.

Size: 8 x 7.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 22 mm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).

This specimen is interesting because of the cavity in the matrix, where bright red cinnabar crystals stand out. They are accompanied by lenticular baryte crystals. An old specimen from the Arguijo collection.

Size: 8 x 5.7 x 3 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).

Tyrolite specimens from the Amorosa mine are a classic of Spanish mineralogy. In the cavities of the dolomitic matrix we find esthetic and brilliant aggregates of tabular, foliaceous crystals of tyrolite. The SEM-EDS analysis of this sample are consistent with those of other deposits, showing the presence of S and Zn in its composition. It is accompanied by chenevixite, an arsenate of copper and iron, olive green colour. We will send detailed analysis to the buyer.

Size: 8.3 x 5.5 x 3.8 cm.

Col. M. Marí y A. García (Castelló).
Analyzed specimen with report

Dravite crystals of Yinnietharra are a classic of the world mineralogy. Today, they can only be obtained from old collections that were fortunate enough to be formed when the mines were worked. This specimen shows us a group of doubly terminated dravite crystals, with very well defined faces and edges, bright and with the characteristic color of toasted honey. They are accompanied by muscovite.
Mining for muscovite used in the electrical industry occurred on Yinnietharra station at several sites between 1922 and 1946, beryl and columbite from 1942 to 1965, and gem specimen mining after this till around 1990. Minor rare earth, uranium bearing and lithium minerals are present but have never been mined to any extent. No mining on the field has been large scale.

Size: 5.8 x 4.6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 5.3 x 3.3 cm.
Found in ±1980.

Col. Manchion. #200. Expominer 1985.
Classic locality

Almandine crystal, faceted, with forms of the dodecahedron, and rounded edges. The back side is the contact with matrix or other crystals. A classic of Spanish mineralogy, nowadays very difficult to see.

Size: 5.5 x 5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 2.8 cm. arista/edge
Found in ±1975.

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

Good sized specimen of stichite, very rich and aesthetic. It comes from the mining area in which the species has its Type Locality, in Tasmania. The brightness, the intense purple color, the waxy luster and the fibrous shape make it a quality piece. In a serpentinite matrix. A highly representative combination of this rare species. The stichtite is a rare hydrated carbonate of chromium and magnesium from the group of the hydrotalcite.

Size: 10.2 x 6 x 2.8 cm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Type Locality

Good sized specimen of stichite, very rich and aesthetic. It comes from the mining area in which the species has its Type Locality, in Tasmania. The brightness, the intense purple color, the waxy luster and fibrous shape make it a quality piece. In a serpentinite matrix. A highly representative combination of this rare species. The stichtite is a rare hydrated carbonate of chromium and magnesium from the group of the hydrotalcite.

Size: 8.7 x 7 x 2.6 cm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Type Locality

Druse of roselite crystals, with good color and defined forms. They are accompanied by pink crystals of cobaltoan calcite.

Size: 5.5 x 5 x 3.5 cm.

Johannsenite is a rare calcium and manganese silicate of the pyroxene group. In this specimen it appears forming aggregates of sharp prisms, with dark green color, accompanied by tabular lanceolate crystals of axinite-(Mn) of greenish tones and quartz crystals. A good-sized specimen of an unusual species.

Size: 7.2 x 5.8 x 5.5 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.

A classic specimen from the Alpine valley of Aosta. Group of very defined crystals of grossular, with an exceptional brightness and very intense orange color. They show faces of the dodecahedron and the trapezohedron. They are accompanied by aggregates of olive green chlorite. A very bright and aesthetic piece.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 4 - 5 mm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).

An esthetic specimen, cubic fluorite crystalsfluorite, with beveled edges, of blue to purple tone according to the incident light. They present some nips when extracted. Disposed on a matrix of baryte crystals covered by small brilliant quartz crystals.

Size: 7.6 x 5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 20 x 19 mm / 18 x 15 mm.

Exceptional specimen of acanthite that shows the skeletal growths of octahedral crystals of this silver sulphide, with an exceptional brilliance, sharp faces and edges, and on matrix, something unusual. Very nice also under magnifying glass. A fine piece of this Moroccan mine.

Size: 9 x 6.5 x 3.8 cm.
Main crystal: 4 mm. 17 mm aggr.
Found in 2002-2004

Very rich specimen formed by several rosettes of tabular to lenticular azurite crystals, intense color and contrasting on the matrix, with quartz. Its origin is due to the alteration of the chalcopyrite and are disposed on a silicified limestone matrix. Very good piece for the locality.

Size: 8 x 5.4 x 4.4 cm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)

Radial aggregates of ferro-pargasite with an intense luster and very deep green colour. Accompanied in the granatite matrix with epidote crystals and orange calcite. The ferro-pargasite of this deposit is the dominant amphibole in the granatite fissures, although it was classified as hastingsite according to data provided by the exploiting company (according to Miguel Calvo in Minerales de España, vol. IX); for this reason surely the label that accompanies this sample classifies it as hastingsite.

Size: 10 x 8.5 x 2.5 cm.
Main crystal: 35 mm fibr.
Found in ±1988

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)

Fibrous aggregate of tremolite crystals, very brilliant and with an olive green colour. They are accompanied by prismatic crystals of darker green actinolite and orange calcite. Good size and representative for the locality and the species. The Manuel-Mercedes open pit is embedded in the granitic intrusions that were accompanied by contact metamorphism and gave rise to the formation of the skarn, with important deposits of magnetite.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 5.2 cm.

A very esthetic and good size specimen formed by several globular aggregates of acicular crystals of rosasite, of bluish green color, some partially covered by bright and transparent calcite crystals. It is accompanied by smithsonite and in a goethite matrix.

Size: 8.5 x 7.5 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm aggr.
Found in ±1989

Col. Manchion (Barcelona) #445 E. Kucera (1989).

This sample has, for me, both a collection and scientific interest. It is a sample of cinnabar "veins" in its host rock, which has been perfectly polished to be able to see the structures of this breccia. Intense red colors of cinnabar snaking between fragments of quartzite impregnated with cinnabar, isolated crystals of pyrite and veins of dolomite. A true curiosity from Almaden to study under the magnifying glass.

Size: 6.5 x 5 x 1.4 cm.

Agatized coral with marked bands. In a very visible coral matrix. Filled inside with botryoidal and banded chalcedony. The sparkly, translucent botryoids and banding have a pleasing variety of honey-brown and creamy colors. Very aesthetic and unusual in the marked. Fluoresces in a light-blue color under a long wave fluorescent light.

Size: 11 x 4.5 x 1 cm.

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)

Excellent specimen formed by very numerous aggregates of pyrargyrite crystals. Intense brightness, with red transparence, crystals are very rich in faces. We have analyzed some of the crystals and we will send the results to the buyer. For display, but also to observe/enjoy under the magnifying glass.

Size: 5.6 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 2 mm.

Brilliant botryoidal hematite specimen. In the back side we observe very esthetic concentric growths of different colours, fibrous, of hematite. These pieces have been cleaned in origin with sand which eliminates the surface oxide layer to let us see these spherical forms of good size. Very curious Moroccan novelty.

Size: 7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in 2018.

Good botryoidal specimen of hematite. In the back side we observe very esthetic growths of different tones, fibrous, of hematite. These pieces are usually cleaned at the origin with sand, but in this case and because of the luster, we do not believe that it was. Very curious Moroccan novelty.

Size: 7 x 3.5 x 3 cm.
Found in 2018.