A good sized sample of graphite showing parallel aggregates of crystals. The lusters is spectacular, with that black "flywing" tone. One of the faces of the sample has some scratches we wanted to preserve and that show the piece was used for some scientific experiments. According to the owner of the piece, the sample was collected near the end of XIXth, around 1890. Confirm that Radigara is the origin is difficult, but it does belong to the Ratnapura mining district. The metallic luster, bright and pure, has a greasy feeling, as expected. This mining area is today a place famous for its gems, but we must not forget that once it was also important for native graphite. Currently obtaining these specimens is very rare, since sapphires and rubies are obviously more valuable for miners.

Very sharp almandine-spessartine crystal from Madagascar pegmatites. Rich in faces, a textbook specimen. Under the light you can see transparencies of reddish tones, in fact it is of intense red. It is disposed very aerial on the matrix with feldspar and quartz. Complete, perfect, of a considerable size... The garnets from Ialamitana, has been found to be an intermediate almandine-spessartine (Mineralogical Record, 29, p. 132). A great piece for garnet group lovers.

Good sized specimen formed by well developed prismatic crystals of stibnite, with striated faces and well defined terminations; some of these crystals show very visible curved forms. They are partially covered by calcite, of an intense orange color, together with yellowish tone stibiconite aggregates.
Stibiconite was for a long time an acknowledged species, but is now questionable, in line with the revised nomenclature of the minerals of the pyrochlore supergroup (Atencio et al. 2010).

Very well developed prismatic colorless transparent crystals of quartz showing phantom geometrical inclusions. These inclusions of pale green fuchsite crystals takes well defined forms. Crystals are free of damage. Very interesting specimen.

Rich group of trapezohedral crystals of analcime, very bright and transparent, partially covering a cavity in the volcanic rock. They are accompanied by small yellowish globules of smectite. From this classic Spanish locality.

Nowadays, graphite specimens from this classic Asturian locality are very difficult to be found. These specimens show contiguous columns, with greasy luster and defined hexagonal forms. The crystal habit of natural graphite in most cases is determined by its highly anisotropic, layered structure. However, anomalous habits of graphite, determined not only by its structure, but also by the peculiarities of the growth environment, are frequently encountered.

Nowadays, graphite specimens from this classic Asturian locality are very difficult to be found. These specimens show contiguous columns, with greasy luster and defined hexagonal forms. The crystal habit of natural graphite in most cases is determined by its highly anisotropic, layered structure. However, anomalous habits of graphite,determined not only by its structure, but also by the peculiarities of the growth environment, are frequently encountered.

Rich group of small hexagonal prismatic pyromorphite crystals with an intense green color partially covering a quartz matrix. Crystals are very sharp and color very uniform. From a Spanish locality not well represented in collections.

From a classic locality for the species is coming this thorianite cube, with pointed faces of the octahedron, intense black color and brightness. The thorianite is a thorium oxide, almost always with some uranium content, the uranothorianite variety. This specimen contains about 5-6% by weight of uranium. We will send the analysis to the buyer.

Group of bournonite prismatic crystals, with striated faces by the cyclic twin; interesting acute terminal faces, good brilliance and complete crystals. They are accompanied by bright aggregates of acicular boulangerite and sharp pyrite crystals. They are accompanied by lenticular crystals of possible magnesite or dolomite. A sample purchased by Sr. Manchion from Dr. Joan Viñals, in the 80s. A different piece from this Peruvian locality.

The label of this specimen reads "Sevilla". In the catalog of the Manchion collection it is mentioned that this piece of schorl-dravite was acquired to Dr. Joan Viñals, at the Granollers fair in 1988. For that reason, in the absence of more info, we will leave this wonderful Andalusian region as its origin. M. Calvo talks about tourmalines in pegmatites from the Los Ángeles mine, near El Castillo de las Guardas, in Seville.

Good specimen formed by various manganese oxides, with tabular crystals of pyrolusite forming brilliant rosettes, on botryoidal aggregates of romanèchite-pyrolusite. A good old piece. Acquired by Sr. Manchion in the former minerals fair held in 1985 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, close to Barcelona.

Rich druse of fluorite crystals. This kind of octahedral crystals show a special brilliance due to the multiple growths of small crystals on the faces of the octahedron. This fact gives them a rough surface. Translucent, with good green color and good size. The Berta quarry-mine is in the process of filling and restoration. Not oiled. An old specimen ca. 1985, from Manchion Collection.

Interesting example of goethite with a richness and very remarkable intense iridescences. From the classic mines of Riotinto; collected in 1985, accompanied by old label.

Chrysotile fibrous veins in serpentinized marble from this classic Catalan locality.

On a matrix of quartz crystals, with azurite, there are numerous fibrous aggregates of malachite crystals. Intense color, good brilliance and silky luster. A very bright piece.

The extremely glassy, transparent to translucent opal colors range from colorless to very rich orange. A really excellent, sculptural and rich bi-colored large matrix opal example from this locality. Bright neon-green fluorescence. Very old material. Matrix opal specimens of this large size are rare from this Oregon locality.

This specimen is not a "museum specimen" but for the collectors of this "territory" it has a very good memories. It is a tourmaline, sometimes dravite other schorl, of the pegmatites of the Collserola range, in the area of Tibidabo-Sant Pere Màrtir, in the city of Barcelona. It is one of those pieces that we can not do without if we like our mineralogy. With old label.

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

Group of sphalerite crystals with very marked parallel and polycrystalline growths, with the predominant forms of the tetrahedron, slightly curved in faces and edges, transparent to translucent and brilliant. Toasted honey color. With the light on the backside it lights up in intense orange (see photo).

Groups of tabular saléeite to metasaléeite crystal aggregates, with a characteristic greenish-yellow color, transparent to translucent, due to the loss of water. The shade is much more greenish than the autunite.

Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Good size... Globular groups formed by lamellar crystals of theisite, with a bluish to green color on a matrix of dolomite. It is accompanied by crusts of claraite crystals, of an intense turquoise blue. Also with azurite and manganese oxides, probably asbolane. Analysis results will be sent to the buyer.
Theisite is a rare copper and zinc arsenate-antimonate that has been described for the first time in this mine in the Catalan Pyrenees. Claraite is a rare copper and zinc carbonate which may contain sulfur and/or arsenic. These mineral species are the second citation in Spain.

Rich group of microcline crystals, amazonite variety, showing defined faces and edges and a very aerial disposition. The color is quite good and very attractive. From an old Catalan collection.

Perovskite is an very unusual species, if we add that crystals are in good condition, damage free, and that they were collected in a locality of close to Madrid, the species becomes even more interesting... In this piece highlights a group of perovskite crystals between toasted honey to yellowish tones, cube-shaped, translucent and brilliant. One of them with a good size for the locality. They are accompanied by aggregates of octahedral magnetite crystals. A rarity. Specimen has been repaired consolidating a fissure of the matrix, not afecting crystals.