The first specimens were found in the mines of Aït-Ahmane between 2014 and 2015. The best ones reached the market around 2017. They are twinned crystals of remarkable perfection for the species, formed by intergrowths of djurleite and chalcocite. No better specimens have been found in the area and probably worldwide.
Although some relatively recent analytical results (see mindat) indicated that they were crystals of djurleite only, others indicated that they were mixtures of both species. Realistically, djurleite and chalcocite often appear together in the same crystal, and one can even transform into the other depending on the physical-chemical conditions present. For this reason I have preferred to preserve the name of both species. Interesting article: Pósfai-Buseck Amer. Min. 1994.

In addition to its type locality in Namibia, skorpionite has also been determined in Tsumeb, so there are only two localities in the world where this species has been found. This fine specimen shows a layer of soft greenish colored crystals of tarbuttite which are coated by tiny white "needle"-like crystals of skorpionite and rose-like groups of white hemimorphite on matrix. An excellent piece for the species, very rare to see on the market.

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A very faceted tabular crystal of wulfenite. It stands out for its deep blue colour, which is unusual for this species. It belongs from the Bou Skour mine, where crystals of this type have been obtained, but they are usually very small, around a millimetre. This one measures 8 mm...

A specimen of this rare zinc phosphate formed by numerous tabular, well-defined, bright crystals with parallel and curved growths. They have a very characteristic light green colour. In the middle of the last decade, many samples of tarbuttite appeared from the Skorpion mine, but nowadays they are difficult to find.

Aesthetic beryl, emerald variety, disposed very aerial on a carbonated matrix with calcite and pyrite. It is a prismatic, defined crystal, formed by axial growths and with defined terminal faces. Translucent and with an intense green colour. A fine gem.

Floating specimen of copper, formed by dendritic to arborescent aggregates of copper crystals.

Native copper specimen formed by various rounded and flattened copper crystals, in arborescent to dendritic growths. It is accompanied by a minor quartz matrix.

Native copper specimen formed by various rounded copper crystals, in arborescent to dendritic growths.

A very good-sized specimen of schorl, with multiple prism faces and rhombohedral terminal faces. The brilliance is excellent and the black colour is very intense. A great specimen from this classic African locality.

Excellent specimen formed by numerous idiomorphic wulfenite crystals, richly faceted, brilliant, between transparent to translucent and with an intense orange color. They are accompanied by curious elongated tabular barite crystals. A really fine speciemen from Joan Viñals and purchased by E. Nicolau.

75 €

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A large group of snowy laumontite crystals that have grown to cover the walls of an Alpine fissure. A rare specimen from this Swiss region.

Sample formed by several crystals of hercynite, var. picotite, a Mg, Cr rich member of spinel group: (Fe,Mg)(Al,Cr)₂O₄. Collected by Hal Miller in the 1960s, via Dave Shannon. Similar samples discussed in mindat.

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A specimen of massive maroon coloured althausite, partly altered to apatite. Althausite may alter to apatite along the cleavage planes. This is especially typical for the althausite found at the type locality and Overntjern locality. This rare magnesium phosphate was first described from serpentine-magnesite deposits in Norway. Specimen acquired from David Shannon and from the Knut Larson collection.

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Very good-sized specimen of rhombohedral dolomite crystals, very well defined and bright. Transparent to translucent, with greyish tones. Interpenetrated crystals. With an interesting and rare label from the former Sabadell mineral dealer "Blenda".

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Berthierite is a rare iron antimony sulfosalt and not often found in good crystallized specimens. This piece is from the classic locality, the Baia Sprie Mine (Felsőbánya Mine) in Romania featuring dozens of acicular, silvery-grey needles of berthierite in nearly parallel growth, free of matrix. This rich specimen is beautifully accented with a variable iridescent tarnish, giving the piece much color and character. A wonderful example of this rare and classic material from a locality that was mined continuously from the 14th Century until 2006. From the collection of Julio Martínez (València).

Very defined barite crystal, with shapes of different orthorhombic prisms truncated by pinacoidal faces. The transparence is excellent. From this classic Moroccan mine for baryte crystals.

Rhombohedral dolomite crystal from this classic Navarra locality. It is disposed very aerial on a dolomite matrix. Three of the faces of the rhombohedron are dotted with small globules of goethite. A very aesthetic miniature.

In this specimen we could observe numerous aggregates of hexagonal gmelinite-Ca crystals, colorless, shiny and with parallel growths. They are accompanied by chabasita-Ca that gives this orange color to the specimen. Very difficult to find specimens of this quality and locality.

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This specimen is interesting both for the species and for the locality. These are aggregates of pseudomalachite crystals that have grown in a fissure in the matrix formed mostly by quartz, in a small outcrop located on the slope of the "Cerro Viejo", near the Maidevera reservoir.

Very rich specimen formed by several cubic fluorite crystals, with polysynthetic growths on the faces and accompanied by microcrystalline quartz. Transparent to translucent. The violet to purple color is very intense and zoned. Some edges have small chips, but it is an old sample, from the mid-80s, from the collection of Julio Martínez (València).

Aggregates of tabular siderite crystals, with greenish tones, which are disposed on a matrix with small crystals of quartz, galena and baryte. The sample comes from this classic Almeria mine where it is not easy to find specimens of siderite with this quality. From the Aleydis Soliveres collection.

A good-sized specimen from this Extremadura mine formed by numerous bright andradite crystals, with defined faces, and accompanied by magnetite and an orthoclase crystal. From the Soliveres collection.

Specimen formed by a druse of quartz microcrystals on which several groups of cubic fluorite crystals have grown. They have faces that are asymmetrically beveled by the dodecahedron. Its transparency allows us to see a curious geometric zoning of color. The specimen comes from the J. Vilalta collection and the A. Soliveres collection. From a mine from which it is difficult to find pieces.

110 €

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A very good sized piece of arsenatian vanadinite. Numerous crystals of very good size, interpenetrated, with good luster. A Moroccan classic not easy to find with this size, from the Cendón collection (Cerdanyola del Vallès).