Excellent specimen of fluorapophyllite-(K) crystals, doubly terminated, very aerial disposed, with a green color with zoning, and tetragonal forms of the prism and the dipyramid very visible, with parallel growths. They are disposed contrasting with a snowy white matrix of lanceolated crystals of heulandite-Ca. A gemmy specimen.

Size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 2.8 x 1.5 cm.

Col. Manchion (Barcelona).

This specimen shows an interesting group formed by a bluish, very bright botryodal chalcedony, which is partially covered by aggregates of calcite crystals, flattened, in axial growth, and with an excellent transparency and brightness. A worthy specimen of this near to disapeared quarry, close to the San Valentín quarry. A very aesthetic piece of this classic Murcia mining area.

Size: 7.8 x 6.4 x 4.6 cm.
Found in ±1988

Group of fluorite crystals showing sharp edges and cube faces with polysynthetic growths. Good color, intense between purple to violet, depending on the incident light and with geometric colour zoning.

Size: 7.5 x 3.7 x 4.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3.7 cm.
Found in ±1980

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

Group of fluorite crystals showing sharp edges and cube faces with polysynthetic growths. Good color, intense between purple to violet, depending on the incident light and with geometric colour zoning.

Size: 6.2 x 6 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.

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

Rich group of fan-shaped tabular erythrite crystals in parallel growth; very brilliant, of intense color and disposed very aerial on the matrix with quartz crystals. A fine specimen from Bou Azer.

Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.

Very curious specimen formed by several cubic crystals of halite, some with hoppered growth forms, bright and translucent. A very aesthetic neoformation of these "salinas" (saltworks). Although it is believed that the Romans, in the s. I AD, they already extracted salt from the area, the saltworks of Imón were built in the 10th century and have been exploited intermittently for centuries. In 2015 they returned to production with the construction of new pools of enormous dimensions.

Size: 9 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 20 x 15 mm.
Found in ±2014

In the eastern part of the beach of Lapari there are the known septaria of Deba. The reef may have about 15 m, but it is not distinguished from the rest of the marly formation of the black flysch of Deba beach. The first publications on the septaria of Deba date from 1958. The upper part of the site has been totally destroyed by works, and in the part of the beach, foreign and local collectors collected numerous specimens. Currently this area has been declared of special protection within the coastal biotope Deba-Zumaia so the collection of septaria is absolutely prohibited [link]. Polished section.

Size: 5 x 4.8 x 1 cm.
Found in ±1970

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

Aesthetic cluster of greenish andradite crystals, very well defined, bright and slightly iridescent. From Stanley Butte, Arizona, classic locality for these specimens. No damage to any of the main crystals.

Size: 7.8 x 5 x 4.2 cm.
Main crystal: 14 mm.
Found in ±1988

Col. Manchion (Barcelona) #403 E. Kucera (1988).

Very brilliant aggregates of azurite crystals, well defined and with the characteristic deep blue color. On an altered chalcopyrite matrix partially covered by a layer of velvety malachite. An good size and old specimen from this Catalan collection.

Size: 10 x 6.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1980

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

Globular aggregates formed by acicular crystals of rosasite, with colours between deep green and light bluish green. Very aesthetic and disposed on a matrix of goethite. From this classic Mexican mine.

Size: 8.5 x 7 x 4.8 cm.

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

In this specimen, we observed some sulfide aggregates very characteristic of Las Cruces mine. They were partially covered with calcite and under it appear groups of very brilliant chalcocite crystals. But the most interesting part of this specimen are the small, very brilliant crystals those cover sulphides. It is an unusual species: Luzonite. Luzonite is a rare copper sulfoarsenide. I have made the relevant analysis that yields consistent results: S 35.19%, Cu 41.82%, As 22.99% (%wt). You can find more information at espiadellabo.com.

Size: 8 x 6.5 x 4.7 cm.

Analyzed specimen with report

Druse of very sharp baryte crystals showing developed and striated prismatic faces, truncated by pinacoids. The crystals are translucent, and color varies between colorless to yellowish. Excellent brilliance. Similar specimens were classified, many years ago, as hokutolite (a lead-rich baryte variety) but further analysis showed that there was only a minor lead content.

Size: 10.2 x 6.5 x 3 cm.
Main crystal: 7 mm.
Found in ±1975

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

Druse of very sharp baryte crystals showing developed and striated prismatic faces, truncated by pinacoids. The crystals are translucent, and color varies between colorless to yellowish. Excellent brilliance. Similar specimens were classified, many years ago, as hokutolite (a lead-rich baryte variety) but further analysis showed that there was only a minor lead content.

Size: 7.5 x 6 x 4.7 cm.
Main crystal: 6-7 mm.
Found in ±1975

Col. A. Arguijo (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
Analyzed specimen with report

Druse of small quartz crystals, some doubly terminated, partially covered by white kaolinite. Peppered by several anatase crystals, with dipyramidal faces, truncated by basal pinacoid. Very sharp, translucent and with a toasted honey tone. Very aesthetic and rare in the market.
It is interesting to say that recent analysis of the reddish ashlars of the Torre Nueva (New Tower) of the Astorga cathedral indicated that these building materials were extracted from this Cantera del Moro during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Size: 10 x 9 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 mm.

Fan-shaped aggregates of excellent roweite crystals, beige orange colour, defined, good size and with quality for this species. Roweite is a rare calcium and manganese borate. They are accompanied by white hexagonal prismatic crystals of johnbaumite, up to 7 mm, excellent for the species. Johnbaumite is a very rare calcium arsenate, the arsenic analog of hydroxylapatite. In a matrix with green andradite and transparent colorless pentahydroborite. A very complete specimen, with very rare and well crystallized species.

Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.7 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm (Roweite)/ 7 mm (Johnbaumite)
Found in 2017.

Fluorescent under short wave UV

Group of sharp isolated octahedral fluorite crystals, from translucent to transparent. They show an interesting slight apple green color. They are accompanied by small quartz crystals. On a granite matrix. This matrix is classic for modern specimens and comes from low levels of the Berta quarry.

Size: 6.5 x 4.4 x 4.6 cm.
Main crystal: 0.8 cm.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Group of rhodochrosite crystals with a uniform pink color, with well-defined rhombohedron echeloned and scalenohedron forms. Good gemmy transparence. They are accompanied by other smaller rhodo crystals. On a solid matrix with quartz crystals with inclusions and manganese oxides.

Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 4 cm.
Main crystal: 1 cm.

A very aerial malachite aggregate, showing fibrous crystals, intense colour, with zoning, and good luster. On a matrix with dolomite small crystals. A very aesthetic specimen from this classic Moroccan mines.

Size: 5 × 4.3 × 3.2 cm
Main crystal: 3 cm

Really good specimen from the high Swiss mountains of the Galenstock area, 3586 m., known for its smoky quartz. This good sized piece shows several of them, with excellent transparence, very uniform smoky tone, with defined faces and edges and partially covered with 'chlorite'. They are accompanied in the matrix with numerous crystals of adularia (variety of feldspar K), well defined. A piece for the display.

Size: 11 x 7 x 6 cm.
Main crystal: 3.3 x 1.5 cm.
Found in 2017.

Aesthetic vanadinite specimen, really good for the locality. We can observe crowned prismatic crystals with color zonació and intense brightness. An interesting article on MR: Leon, M. and Liso, M.J. (1996): Vanadinite from the Gerty Mine Badajoz Spain. Mineralogical Record, 27(5), 381-384.

Size: 5.5 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm.
Main crystal: 3 mm.

Radial aggregates of stibnite crystals, very brilliant and in the rocky matrix. We can see some flattened crystals. Of this old mine where today it is difficult to find pieces.

Size: 5.3 x 3.7 x 1.8 cm.
Main crystal: 1.5 cm.
Found in ±1984.

Col. Manchion #93, 06/1984.

Specimen formed by small rounded crystals of smithsonite, with an intense pink color. These specimens stand out for the town and its intense color. The mine is now closed and in the process of restoration to make a part visitable.

Size: 8.8 x 4 x 3.4 cm.
Found in 2018.

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: 6.5 x 5 x 3.5 cm.
Found in ±1984.

Col. Manchion #97, 04/1984, J. Viñals.
Classic locality

Druse of fluorite crystals, with cube shapes, translucent and of a green color. They are partially covered by small quartz crystals that show forms of corrosion. With intense fluorescence activity under LW-UV light. Very curious. From the Manchion Collection.

Size: 10 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm.
Found in ±1986.

Col. Manchion #219, 01/1986,
Fluorescent under long wave UV

Rich aggregate of malachite crystals, brilliant, with an intense green color, which stand out on a matrix of blue-green chrysocolla. Very aesthetic

Size: 7.4 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm.