Carpe Minerals by Carles Manresa

TBB70CD4: Group of Calcite crystals formed by poorly developed prisms and flattened rhombohedral terminations with rounded contours. The piece has a more intense reddish color on its upper half and more pink in the lower half, both with very bright luster and with concentric growths as can be seen on the back of the specimen that corresponds to the matrix.
The specimen comes from the collection of Paco Fernández and Carmen Valls whose handwritten label (number 5-020) we will send to the buyer.
Oumlil Mine, Oumlil, Bou Azzer mining district, Zagora Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region  Morocco

Specimen size: 10.3 × 8.9 × 4.6 cm = 4.06” × 3.50” × 1.81”

Main crystal size: 2.3 × 1 cm = 0.91” × 0.39”

TAL6CDD: Kanonenspat-type where the entire crystal is Calcite without pseudomorphism (analyzed), aerial, with separation between the different crystals of this variety of Calcite.
Jebel Masker, Imilchil area, Tounfit, Khénifra Province, Beni Mellal-Khenifra Region  Morocco (09-10/2021)

Specimen size: 9 × 7.4 × 7.3 cm = 3.54” × 2.91” × 2.87”

Main crystal size: 5.3 × 2.8 cm = 2.09” × 1.10”

HGB96CD2: Druse of Quartz crystals with acicular Goethite crystals, partially coated by a second generation of transparent Quartz, very shiny, and forming growths between stalagmitic and globular, completely hyaline.
This type of formation in the goethites of Sidi Rahal is rarely seen, and it has been seen in old or very old pieces like this one.
Sidi Rahal, El Kelaâ des Sraghna Province, Marrakech-Safi Region  Morocco

Specimen size: 7.7 × 6.2 × 5.8 cm = 3.03” × 2.44” × 2.28”

Main crystal size: 0.6 × 0.2 cm = 0.24” × 0.08”

MRV92CD3: One of the secondary lead compounds par excellence: Cerussite. In this specimen it appears in its maximum splendor, with very aerial and developed crystals, with a multitude of V twins and some cyclic twins. Cream tones, very lustrous and pearly, and in matrix.
The specimen comes from the famous Touissit locality, in Morocco, and stands out for its perfection, not always easy to achieve in specimens from this locality.
Touissit, Touissit District, Jerada Province, Oriental Region  Morocco

Specimen size: 9 × 6.4 × 4.2 cm = 3.54” × 2.52” × 1.65”

Main crystal size: 2.7 × 1.2 cm = 1.06” × 0.47”

EPX99CD5: Group of numerous Azurite crystals on a rock matrix, partially covered by a yellowish layer of iron oxides (analyzed). The Azurite crystals are very sharp and perfectly defined, with a very deep and intense blue color.
The specimen comes from the mining area of Tazalarht, in Morocco, from a relatively recent discovery.
Tazalarht mining area, Taroudant Province, Souss-Massa Region  Morocco (01-02/2023)

Specimen size: 7.8 × 6.7 × 5.1 cm = 3.07” × 2.64” × 2.01”

Main crystal size: 0.5 × 0.2 cm = 0.20” × 0.08”

ETT50CD1: Thick, in matrix, and very rich in faces, this Almandine is a manual of crystallography which stands out for its perfection.
Tranomaro Commune, Tranomaro-Maromby area, Amboasary District, Anosy Region (Fort Dauphin Region), Toliara Province (Tuléar)  Madagascar

Specimen size: 7.3 × 4.2 × 3.8 cm = 2.87” × 1.65” × 1.50”

Main crystal size: 4.5 × 4.3 cm = 1.77” × 1.69”

MBF67CD2: Floating crystal of gem-quality Beryl (morganite variety) with some parts of the crystal showing very sharp crystal shapes and other parts with recrystallization areas.
It is transparent, very shiny, with magnificent color and luster, and of considerable size for this classic pegmatite deposit.
Alto Ligonha pegmatite, Zambezia Province  Mozambique

Specimen size: 9.9 × 7.8 × 4 cm = 3.90” × 3.07” × 1.57”

Main crystal size: 9.9 × 6.4 cm = 3.90” × 2.52”

TVR16CD4: Octahedral crystals of Fluornatromicrolite with an intense green color and polycrystalline growths, embedded in a matrix formed by 'lepidolite' crystals and radiating tabular crystals of Albite.
This specimen is a great representive of a rare species whose origin is a pegmatite rich in lithium, cesium and tantalum.
It comes from the Félix Sorhouet collection (number 4-84) whose label we will send to the buyer.
Naipa Mine, Alto Ligonha pegmatite, Zambezia Province  Mozambique

Specimen size: 11.7 × 8.4 × 7.5 cm = 4.61” × 3.31” × 2.95”

Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.4 cm = 0.59” × 0.55”

EBB89CDD: Elegant, with good color and luster, and definitely beautiful.
L'Etoile du Congo Mine, Lubumbashi (Elizabethville), Katanga Copper Crescent, Haut-Katanga (Shaba)  Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the

Specimen size: 6.5 × 6.3 × 2.1 cm = 2.56” × 2.48” × 0.83”

EHH26CDD: Beautiful. We haven't managed to capture the play of lights and the brilliance that this lovely piece has, neither in the photo nor the video. Sometimes it's not easy; minerals have their own ways... 😉
Mindingi Mine (Mindigi Mine), Swambo, Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba)  Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the (08/2023)

Specimen size: 6.4 × 6.3 × 3.8 cm = 2.52” × 2.48” × 1.50”

EXP66CDD: The Mindingi Mine has been prolific in 2023. Very attractive, this Malachite has the characteristic of being on a matrix of Quartz crystals with Goethite inclusions (analyzed), giving it a slightly orange hue.
Mindingi Mine (Mindigi Mine), Swambo, Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba)  Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the (04/2023)

Specimen size: 10.2 × 8 × 3.7 cm = 4.02” × 3.15” × 1.46”

EPR47CDD: The Mindingi Mine has been prolific in 2023. Very curious Malachite with spheroidal formations, on a Quartz matrix, and with a darker tone than usual due to the thin Goethite coatings. The analysis proved that Goethite was responsible for this peculiar color.
Mindingi Mine (Mindigi Mine), Swambo, Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba)  Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the (04/2023)

Specimen size: 14.7 × 11 × 4.3 cm = 5.79” × 4.33” × 1.69”

ETV27CDD: The Mindingi Mine has been prolific in 2023. Very curious Malachite with spheroidal formations, on a Quartz matrix, and with a darker tone than usual due to the thin Goethite coatings. The analysis proved that Goethite was responsible for this peculiar color.
Mindingi Mine (Mindigi Mine), Swambo, Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba)  Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the (04/2023)

Specimen size: 18 × 10.7 × 4.8 cm = 7.09” × 4.21” × 1.89”

TFT53CD4: Group of Rhodochrosite crystals on matrix, forming parallel polycrystalline aggregates, of intense and uniform pink color and with good luster, exhibiting a habit that is not very common in the Wessels mine.
A very aesthetic specimen for the locality.
Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese field (KMF), Northern Cape Province  South Africa

Specimen size: 8.7 × 5.4 × 2.4 cm = 3.43” × 2.13” × 0.94”

Main crystal size: 0.2 × 0.1 cm = 0.08” × 0.04”

EXL57CD1: A textbook example of morphological perfection. The Schorl crystal has good development in all directions and at the top it shows a richness of faces which embellishes it even more, with the
added white Feldspar at the base, which gives it contrast.
Golconda pegmatite, Governador Valadares, Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais  Brazil

Specimen size: 6.2 × 1.8 × 2.1 cm = 2.44” × 0.71” × 0.83”

Main crystal size: 6 × 1.3 cm = 2.36” × 0.51”

MPL70CD2: Parallel growth of two flattened crystals of Elbaite, shiny, very deep green, and partially included in a hyaline Quartz crystal, which is partially coated by Albite.
Very original, it draws attention to how the Elbaite is included in the Quartz without practically any change in its growth, color and shape.
Cruzeiro Mine, Santa Maria do Suaçui, Governador Valadares, Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais  Brazil

Specimen size: 8.5 × 4.2 × 3.3 cm = 3.35” × 1.65” × 1.30”

Main crystal size: 4.6 × 1.7 cm = 1.81” × 0.67”

EPP87CD3: Aggregate of Orthoclase crystals of delicate cream color, one of them clearly dominant, with perfectly defined faces and edges, crowned by a group of Stellerite crystals of different orange tones, with thickened growths towards the crystal terminations, sharp and with good luster. Small Quartz crystals (smoky variety) complete the piece. A combination of species which is not very common but for which unfortunately we do not know the precise locality beyond the country level.
Given the unusual nature of the specimen, we had it analyzed and will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Brazil (the whole Country)  Brazil

Specimen size: 8.4 × 7.1 × 2.8 cm = 3.31” × 2.80” × 1.10”

Main crystal size: 0.5 × 0.3 cm = 0.20” × 0.12”

TMX90CD5: Group of octahedral Pyrite crystals, very lustrous, with very well defined faces and edges, and with golden reflections on the faces that have rough shapes, with somewhat developed and very smooth edges, and with the vertices truncated by pinacoid faces that in turn show growth striations.
Of considerable size and great crystallographic complexity.
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Huánuco Department  Peru (08-11/2023)

Specimen size: 15 × 11.1 × 5.9 cm = 5.91” × 4.37” × 2.32”

Main crystal size: 3.5 × 3.1 cm = 1.38” × 1.22”

ECD16CD4: Two translucent, apple-green Fluorite crystals with very defined faces and edges and with the dominant form of the octahedron.
Milpo Mine, Cerro de Pasco, Atacocha mining district, Pasco Province, Pasco Department  Peru (2022)

Specimen size: 2.6 × 2 × 1.6 cm = 1.02” × 0.79” × 0.63”

Main crystal size: 2 × 2 cm = 0.79” × 0.79”

TTB27CD4: Fluorite crystals, one of them clearly dominant and in which octahedron forms predominate, between translucent and transparent, with apple-green zoning in the center of the crystal, with polycrystalline growths on the faces, and associated with crystals of Galena and Pyrite.
The Galena has been analyzed to distinguish it from the geocronites from the same find. A copy of the analysis will be sent to the buyer.
Milpo Mine, Cerro de Pasco, Atacocha mining district, Pasco Province, Pasco Department  Peru (2022)

Specimen size: 4.6 × 3.7 × 3.3 cm = 1.81” × 1.46” × 1.30”

Main crystal size: 3 × 2.7 cm = 1.18” × 1.06”

MBT46CD5: Calcite crystals with very sharp trigonal shapes, one of them clearly dominant, implanted on a matrix formed by Quartz crystals, with both species stained by iron oxides. The faces of the Calcite crystals are smooth, with delicate growth striations and darker, perfectly defined edges.
The specimen comes from a recent limited discovery in the Laohuao area in China.
Laohuao, Zhaogang township, Liannan, Qingyuan Prefecture, Guangdong Province  China (±09/2023)

Specimen size: 5.6 × 4.8 × 2.5 cm = 2.20” × 1.89” × 0.98”

Main crystal size: 2.2 × 2  cm = 0.87” × 0.79”

MTC16CD5: Calcite crystals with very sharp trigonal shapes, one of them clearly dominant, implanted on a matrix formed by Quartz crystals, with both species stained by iron oxides. The faces of the Calcite crystals are smooth, with delicate growth striations and darker, perfectly defined edges.
The specimen comes from a recent limited discovery in the Laohuao area in China.
Laohuao, Zhaogang township, Liannan, Qingyuan Prefecture, Guangdong Province  China (±09/2023)

Specimen size: 6.1 × 4.2 × 3.9 cm = 2.40” × 1.65” × 1.54”

Main crystal size: 2.5 × 2.2 cm = 0.98” × 0.87”

MTB14CD5: Calcite crystals with very sharp trigonal shapes, one of them clearly dominant, implanted on a matrix formed by Quartz crystals, with both species stained by iron oxides. The faces of the Calcite crystals are smooth, with delicate growth striations and darker, perfectly defined edges.
The specimen comes from a recent limited discovery in the Laohuao area in China.
Laohuao, Zhaogang township, Liannan, Qingyuan Prefecture, Guangdong Province  China (±09/2023)

Specimen size: 6.3 × 4.5 ×  4.4 cm = 2.48” × 1.77” × 1.73”

Main crystal size: 1.9 × 1.6 cm = 0.75” × 0.63”

MBY86CD5: Calcite crystals with very sharp trigonal shapes, two of them clearly dominant, implanted on a matrix formed by Quartz crystals, with both species stained by iron oxides. The faces of the Calcite crystals are smooth, with delicate growth striations and darker, perfectly defined edges.
The specimen comes from a recent limited discovery in the Laohuao area in China.
Laohuao, Zhaogang township, Liannan, Qingyuan Prefecture, Guangdong Province  China (±09/2023)

Specimen size: 9.5 × 5.6 × 2.8 cm = 3.74” × 2.20” × 1.10”

Main crystal size: 2 × 1.9 cm = 0.79” × 0.75”

EAB56CD1: From a mine famous for the quality of its siderites and chalcopyrites, but which has a bad reputation for frequent small (or large) damage. This specimen on the other hand is totally perfect.
Kaiwu Mine, Hezhang, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou Province  China (2023)

Specimen size: 5.3 × 4.1 × 3.4 cm = 2.09” × 1.61” × 1.34”

Main crystal size: 1.6 × 0.6 cm = 0.63” × 0.24”

TRX97CD5: Group of tabular Baryte crystals showing very marked rhombic morphology, with the faces and edges of the crystals perfectly defined, transparent, with extraordinarily bright luster and with very marked geometric color zoning, darker towards the center of the crystal and an intense uniform yellow color towards the edges.
This very elegant specimen comes from the collection of Bill Dameron.
Dongchuan District, Kunming Prefecture, Yunnan Province  China

Specimen size: 7.8 × 4 × 4.2 cm = 3.07” × 1.57” × 1.65”

Main crystal size: 2 × 1.6 cm = 0.79” × 0.63”

TVX46CD1: Very abundant Veszelyite crystals, with the quality and intense color expected from those of this locality. But also when the crystals appear filling a vug, this makes them very visible, clearly giving the image of being a 'matrix piece'.
Sanguozhuang, Dongchuan District, Kunming Prefecture, Yunnan Province  China (2021)

Specimen size: 6.7 × 4.3 × 3.4 cm = 2.64” × 1.69” × 1.34”

Main crystal size: 0.2 × 0.2 cm = 0.08” × 0.08”

EXM71CDD: From the early days of the arrival of minerals from China to Europe, this is a good Cinnabar, with a very isolated and well-developed crystal in its Quartz matrix.
Tongren Mine, Tongren, Tongren Prefecture, Guizhou Province  China

Specimen size: 9.3 × 8.4 × 3.3 cm = 3.66” × 3.31” × 1.30”

Main crystal size: 1.8 × 1.5 cm = 0.71” × 0.59”

MPQ91CD2: Growth of very sharp, transparent, shiny, and intensely green Fluorapophyllite-(K) crystals. On matrix, with white flattened crystals of Stilbite-Ca.
Although fluorapophyllites-(K) are a common mineral species, these green and shiny ones from Jalgaon were remarkable in their time.
Jalgaon District, Maharashtra  India

Specimen size: 8.9 × 3.9 × 4.5 cm = 3.50” × 1.54” × 1.77”

Main crystal size: 1.3 × 0.4 cm = 0.51” × 0.16”

EQQ87CD2: Parallel growths of well-defined, shiny, deep green Diopside crystals with associated small Titanite crystals.
With numerous intertwined crystals, its appearance is very different from other diopsides.
Alchuri, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas)  Pakistan

Specimen size: 5.8 × 2.6 × 2.2 cm = 2.28” × 1.02” × 0.87”

Main crystal size: 1.4 × 0.6 cm = 0.55” × 0.24”

EPR28CD2: Parallel growths of well-defined, shiny, deep green Diopside crystals with associated small Titanite crystals.
With numerous intertwined crystals, its appearance is very different from other diopsides.
Alchuri, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas)  Pakistan

Specimen size: 6.6 × 2.1 × 1.8 cm = 2.60” × 0.83” × 0.71”

Main crystal size: 2 × 0.5 cm = 0.79” × 0.20”