Excellent sphalerite miniature from this Basque classic mine. It shows a group of brilliant crystals, with a good size, defined faces and slightly curved edges. Good transparence with dark toasted honey-colored tones. Troya mine was closed in 1993, only a few years before these specimens were collected in 1990. Nowadays the mine is collapsed and flooded. 4vf47

Large group of sphalerite crystals with an exceptional brilliance, honey color and transparency that allows light to play with the honey colors. Peppered by small crystals of calcite showing flattened shapes of the rhombohedral and prism. A little gemmy miniature. Troya mine was closed in 1993, only a few years before these specimens were collected in 1990. Nowadays the mine is collapsed and flooded.

Aesthetic specimen of this classic Basque mine that shows a matrix with numerous small sphalerite crystals, honey to orange color, transparent and brilliant. Partially covered by groups of rhombohedral siderite with a staggered growth. With good size, slightly curved faces and edges and very characteristic green color. A very aesthetic specimen.
Troya mine was closed in 1993, only a few years before these specimens were collected in 1990. Nowadays the mine is collapsed and flooded.

A very aesthtic combo of several species. On a matrix formed by two rhombohedral calcite crystals different sized aggregates of pyrite cubes, bright and sharp, with galena showing the spinel twinn. They are accompanied by a second generation of rombohedral and lenticular calcite crystals, pyrrhotite and quartz. A brilliant specimen from this classic European mine.

From a classic Murcian loocality as corta San Valentín comes this specimen formed by a large group of bright sphalerite crystals with tetrahedral and complex shapes, good brightness and partially covered bu lenticular and rhombohedral orange siderite crystals. A very aesthetically striking contrast color.

Group of very sharp trapezohedral analcime crystals, good brilliance and with the usual transparency for the species. They are disposed in a cavity of the volcanic rock covered by calcite. Very interesting specimen from a poorly represented locality in collections.

These specimens have given more than a headache. They have sometimes been cited as celestine from Moscona mine. This specimen shows a group of barite prismatic crystals very rich in faces, with the combination of various orthorhombic prisms and pinacoids. Transparency is excellent and with an amazing brilliance. They are disposed in a matrix with white crystals of calcite. Very few specimens in collections.

Analysis and article in our blog:

Group of rhombohedral calcite crystals with a complex combination showing defined faces and rounded edges. Translucent and very curious waxy luster. On them various prehnite globular aggregates formed by radial growths. A very unusual mineralogical curiosity.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a large group of silver crystals and filaments, forming spongy and skeletal growths. Good luster and a slightly tan tone. Stresses this specimen by several factors. One is its size and weight (on 40 g. or 1.4 oz.). Another is the abundance of this noble metal and perhaps the most interesting is that it is not an acidified sample. This is a plate obtained from a natural fissure in the host rock, with a lenticular and flattened structure. A very different piece from this classic Catalan locality.

This specimen shows one way how silver occurs in Balcoll mine. We note that into the fissures in the limestone have grown numerous skeletal aggregates formed by silver crystals showing well defined forms of the octahedron. Good luster and a bronze patina tone. Accompanied by groups of cubic crystals of acanthite with staggered growths and deep black color. A very representative sample from a classic locality for the Catalan mineralogy.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by several groups of cubic silver crystals with a skeletal shape. They show defined octahedral and cubic faces. The color varies from white to bronze. Accompanied by acanthite aggregates with a darker color. These specimens come from a classic Catalan locality for the species.

In this specimen we can enjoy several groups of wire silver formed by small but brilliant crystals. They show skeletal and arborescent growth, with an excellent metallic luster. Accompanied by black acanthite aggregates. From a classic locality for the Catalan and Spanish mineralogy. A good chance to represent this locality in your collection.

Group of stalactitic aggregates of barite crystals. They are very aerial disposed and formed by bladed crystals with chisel-shaped terminations. With a really good brilliance, some transparence and white color with yellowish tone. A good size specimen. A notable recent find from this Mediterranean mining area that never stops to surprise us.

Group of stalactitic aggregates of barite crystals. They are very aerial disposed and formed by bladed crystals with chisel-shaped terminations. With a really good brilliance, some transparence and white color. A notable recent find from this Mediterranean mining area that never stops to surprise us.

Group of very sharp barite crystals showing two growth generations. First one is formed by good size tabular crystals and it's coated by second generation. This second growth phase presents stalactitic-shape aggregates formed by bladed crystals and chisel-shaped terminations. With a really good luster and snowy white color. A notable recent find from this Mediterranean mining area that never stops to surprise us.

Botryoidal aggregates formed by goethite microcrystals, with a delicate velvety appearance with color zoning that varies between brown garnet to dark gray. In section we can observe the radial arrangement of goethite crystals. The matrix is a mixture of goethite with some siderite rhombohedrons and quartz. These specimens are from a recent find in the Mont-Roc mine, that is known for the French mineralogy for its brilliant goethites and fluorite.

A very aesthetic stalactitic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

A stalactitic shape specimen formed by metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic growth of tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe that the yellow crystals show a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. With smoky quartz as host rock and matrix. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture. We will send analysis to the buyer. This specimen come from late 90's finds in this classic French mine. Ex-col. A. Pouget.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

Globular aggregates of prehnite with a delicate light green color. With well defined and very bright crystal terminal faces. We can observe the radial growth on a sectioned aggregate. These brilliant specimens are quite unusual in this closed quarry.

Specimen with a really good size formed by several groups of vanadinite crystals, with an intense red zoning color, translucent, very brilliant and showing a defined prism truncated by pinacoidal faces. On a solid rocky matrix. A fine specimen from this classic locality.

Spectacular specimen with a very good size formed by several and isolated vanadinite crystals, with an intense red color, with zoning, translucent and showing a defined prism truncated by pinacoidal faces and complex aggregates. Very aerial disposed on a rocky matrix and on the barite which forms aggregates in a book shape. Very displayable and unusual specimen.