A huge size crystal of betafite showing defined octahedral faces (triangular) and developed dodecahedral ones. Very interesting for its crystallography and species. An oldie, classic and representative for the species. This specimen belonged to the collection of P. Sainfeld, mineralogist at the École des Mines de Paris.
Although the term betafite was discredited in 2010, many of us still are using this term to define this mineral when we see it. Our specimen is an uranium, calcium, titanium and niobium/tantalum oxide with radioactive activity. Currently the betafite is included as a variety within the pyrochlore supergroup. As a note, the rich uranium term has been only found in the Moon (oxyuranobetafite).

Size: 5,6 x 4,0 x 3,6 cm.
Found in 1960's.

Ex-col. Sainfeld (École Mines Paris).
Presents radioactive activity.

A huge size crystal of betafite showing defined octahedral faces (triangular) and developed dodecahedral ones. Very interesting for its crystallography and species. An oldie, classic and representative for the species. This specimen belonged to the collection of P. Sainfeld, mineralogist at the École des Mines de Paris.
Although the term betafite was discredited in 2010, many of us still are using this term to define this mineral when we see it. Our specimen is an uranium, calcium, titanium and niobium/tantalum oxide with radioactive activity. Currently the betafite is included as a variety within the pyrochlore supergroup. As a note, the rich uranium term has been only found in the Moon (oxyuranobetafite).

Size: 5,5 x 4,5 x 4,3 cm.
Main crystal: 4,3 x 4,0 cm.
Found in 1960's.

Ex-col. Sainfeld (École Mines Paris).
Presents radioactive activity.

From a classic German locality: Alberoda bei Aue. This locality is known by its silver sulphosalts, but not well represented in collections. This sample is very rich in brilliant stephanite crystals and some reddish pyrargyrite. An old specimen, old label and quality.

Size: 6,0 x 5,2 x 3,5 cm.
Main crystal: 4 x 3 mm.

Ex Dr. Krantz, Bonn.

Group of octahedral crystals of this unusual nickel sulfoarsenide. It shows very bright faces and defined edges. The luster, tet me emphasize, is exceptional. Disposed very aerial on a matrix of calcite. This specimen has NOT been acidified to remove calcite as is usual in many specimens what may compromise their future stability. A good choice.

Size: 6,8 x 3,5 x 1,8 cm.
Main crystal: 13 x 8 mm.

Precio reducido-Reduced price 80€

Recent mineral find and novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. An rich and aesthetic group of prismatic cerussite crystals, with white color, translucent, brilliant, very acute and complex terminations and good size. With striated faces. Contrasting very aerial on the matrix.

The lead and silver mine of Lescure was worked in Roman times and there are documents from the late eighteenth century telling us about these mines. Although "serious" mining operations are confirmed from 1808-29 until its closure in 1951. These specimens are known in long crystals, and since the 90s had not been obtained pieces of this quality. Today the mine is closed and collapsed (Le Règne Mineral, 85, 2009).

Size: 8,0 x 7,7 x 5,8 cm.
Main crystal: 24 x 4 mm.
Found in 04-05/2013.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

Recent mineral find and novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. A very rich group of prismatic cerussite crystals, with white color, translucent, brilliant, very acute and complex terminations and good size. With striated faces. Contrasting very aerial on the matrix.
The lead and silver mine of Lescure was worked in Roman times and there are documents from the late eighteenth century telling us about these mines. Although "serious" mining operations are confirmed from 1808-29 until its closure in 1951. These specimens are known in long crystals, and since the 90s had not been obtained pieces of this quality. Today the mine is closed and collapsed (Le Règne Mineral, 85, 2009).

Size: 7,5 x 4,6 x 3,2 cm.
Main crystal: 21 x 4 mm.
Found in 04-05/2013.

Fluorescent under long wave UV

A novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. Globular aggregates of tabular hemimorphite crystals showing an intense blue color and good luster. This blue color is unusual for the species and in relatively few deposits can be observed, it is usually colorless. The specimen is peppered by groups of very sharp cerussite crystals with good brilliance, some of them partially covered bay a black microcrystals, showing prismatic crystals and cyclic twins. From a recent find at the Kimbedi copper mining area in the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville).

Size: 8,0 x 6,0 x 4,0 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 7 mm (aggr.).
Found in 06/2013.

A novelty at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2013. Globular aggregates of tabular hemimorphite crystals showing an intense blue color and good luster. This blue color is unusual for the species and in relatively few deposits can be observed, it is usually colorless. The specimen is peppered by groups of very sharp cerussite crystals with good brilliance, some of them partially covered bay a black microcrystals, showing prismatic crystals and cyclic twins. The sample is from a recent find at the Kimbedi copper mining area in the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville.

Size: 7,7 x 5,3 x 2,5 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 6 mm (aggr.).
Found in 06/2013.

A high quality specimen from the famous Carrara Marble quarries of Italy. The ancients believed that the water solidified in the form of hyaline quartz crystals... Viewing this specimen, its purity, transparency, brilliance and perfection, perhaps we can understand their interpretation. Undamaged crystals, one almost doubly terminated and on snowy white marble matrix, partially covered by tiny crystals of calcite. An Italian gem.

Size: 6,0 x 4,5 x 4,0 cm.
Main crystal: 13 x 12 mm. (aggr.)

Group of very sharp quartz crystals with inclusions of clinochore, transparence, luster and aesthetically disposed on a K-feldspar (adularia) crystals as a matrix.Very aesthetic and from a unusual locality.

Size: 7,5 x 3,8 x 2,7 cm.
Main crystal: 45 x 6 mm.
Found in 2011.

Interesting specimen of aegirine showing defined prisms with an intense color almost black, brilliance and sharp, prismatic and marked terminal faces. They are accompanied by a some groups of zircon crystals in parallel growth, showing the tetragonal prism and dipyramids. Good orange to yellowish tones, some transparency on edges and disposed in aerial way on aegirine matrix.

Size: 5,8 x 4,0 x 3,5 cm.
Main crystal: 11 x 8 mm.

On a compact quartz matrix we have different groups of cobaltoan calcite crystals with intense purple to fuchsia color, with transparence and well defined faces and edges. It is accompanied by spherical aggregates of snowy white dolomite and some quartz crystals. A classic from Katanga Copper Crescent mines.

Size: 5,4 x 4,3 x 4,9 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 2 mm.

This specimen shows spherical aggregates of plancheite, formed by several acicular crystals in a radiated shape. On the surface of the spheres we can enjoy curious honeycomb structures. Color is between blue and blue-gray. On a vug layered by small quartz crystals. From a locality not well represented in collections for this species.

Size: 7,5 x 5,7 x 5,0 cm.
Main crystal: 4 x 4 mm.

Group of sharp vivianite crystals forming a perfect and aesthetic radial aggregate, not usual for the locality. Excellent brilliance and intense deep green color, visible at the terminal faces of the crystals. These minerals appear in phosphate vein, in fossiliferous areas, the phosphate source. Classic in this area are anapaite specimens in fossil brachiopods.

Size: 4,0 x 3,7 x 2,2 cm.
Found in 2001.

A single and sharp crystal of bastnäsite-(Ce) showing tabular hexagonal shape. They show a good transparency and color that varies between yellow-green to orange-brown, depending on the type of the light that strikes them. Accompanied by corroded allanite-(Ce) as usual in this paragenesis. This specimen is from a French worldwide classic mine for Rare Earth Elements (REE) species: Trimouns. Currently it is not easy to find bastnäsite-(Ce) specimens from this mine and with this crystal size.

Size: 5,9 x 4,8 x 3,3 cm.
Main crystal: 6 x 5 x 1 mm.
Found in 2006.

It shows Pleochroism

A very rich specimen formed by several azurite crystals that have been pseudomorphed by malachite showing original lanceolated forms, also tabular crystals with  velvety faces due to fibrous malachite. Azurite, with deep color, crystals also observed partially converted into malachite. The brilliance of both minerals is really good, with superb aesthetics. From a mine not well represented in collections and which nowadays is difficult to obtain fine mineral specimens.

Size: 5,1 x 4,7 x 3,5 cm.
Found in 2007.

A floater aggregate of lanceolated sharp azurite crystals with an excellent color and luster, with small malachite pseudomorph after azurite growths. From a mine not well represented in collections.

Size: 3,5 x 3.0 x 2,7 cm.
Found in 2007.

In this specimen we observe groups of brilliant galena crystals showing complex forms with parallel growths. Accompanied by some isolated groups of djurleite crystals, those are distinguished by having less brilliance, greyish tone and iridiscent reddish reflections. Prisms are presented as complex forms, rich in faces, with striations and twinned. Djurleite is an uncommon copper sulfide closely related to chalcocite. Published in LAPIS (2014).

Size: 7,5 x 5,0 x 3,0 cm.
Main crystal: 8 x 3 mm.

Gem quality allanite-(Ce) specimen, with a good size, elongated and showing well defined faces and edges. It is embedded in the matrix of calcite with brilliant talc. Transparency and luster are excellent and shows a zoning toasted honey color, with green pleochroism visible depending on light. It is accompanied by other smaller crystal similarly defined and transparent. The area where I extracted no longer exists, when quarry has been extended. A piece of Rare Earths (REE) of a classic French locality, aesthetic and not easy to be found nowadays.

Size: 5,5 x 4,0 x 2,8 cm.
Main crystal: 15 x 3 mm.
Found in 2006.

It shows Pleochroism

This is a nice spinel crystal from Katukubura, very rare to find in the market. This sample shows a very brilliant crystal of spinel, incredibly defined, with very marked octahedron shape. In a matrix of calcite. These crystals are known in gemmological context as "ceylonite". From a not well represented mining area.

Size: 5,3 x 4,5 x 3,6 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 9 mm.

Group of very sharp quartz crystals with inclusions of clinochore, with transparence, luster and aesthetically disposed on a K-feldspar (adularia) crystals as a matrix. Accompanied by well defined small titanite crystals with a honey tones.

Size: 4,5 x 3,7 x 3,0 cm.
Main crystal: 28 x 5 mm.
Found in 2011.

Rich group of andradite crystals showing trapezohedron forms, with the curiosity that the edges are marked with a brown line tone, and with orange faces. Showing some translucency on edges. A specimen rather than representative for this classic Greek mining area.

Size: 5,4 x 5,0 x 3,5 cm.
Main crystal: 12 x 10 mm.

Calcite specimens from la Florida mines are known and valued worldwide. In this sample we have a complex twinned escalenohedron, "doubly terminated", with combination with the rhombohedron. Transparence is excellent, with defined striated faces and delicate edges. It has a delicate yellow color.
These specimens appeared accompanied by dolomite, at level 6 of this mine. A huge size and excellent specimen from this classic Spanish locality.

 

Size: 10,7 x 7,4 x 4,6 cm.
Main crystal: 6,0 x 3,4 cm.

On a matrix covered by small quartz crystals, very bright, you have different groups of erythite crystals with a good size, showing the flattened prismatic shapes and intense color, typical for the species. A sample of quality and good size.

Size: 10,0 x 7,5 x 2,2 cm.
Main crystal: 33 x 17 mm.

Excellent specimen formed by several groups of transparent tabular barite crystals forming globular aggregates, with transparence, brilliance and very sharp faces and edges. Very aesthetically disposed on a fluorite cubic crystals matrix with yellow color and transparence. Accompanied by dolomite saddle-shaped crystals and chalcopyrite. A Spanish classic of the best quality.

Size: 8,8 x 5,5 x 4,0 cm.
Main crystal: 14 x 12 mm. (aggr.)