Mineral Specimens / Portugal - Panasqueira

There is a great mine that is still active within the Iberian peninsular: the mine of Panasqueira in Portugal. The current low price of Wolfram and the competition from other sources means that commercial operation is tough. But for all this, this classic locality has for over 100 years produced, and keeps on producing, fine specimens. These include exceptional specimens of Apatite-(CaF), Ferberite, Arsenopyrite, Siderite, Quartz and numerous other species such as: Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite, Dolomite, Calcite, Mica, Tourmaline, Fluorite, Topaz and Triplite. It has also produced some very rare minerals including Panasqueiraite and Thadeuite. The great feature of these specimens, apart from their quality, is the fact that they almost always combine quite a few mineral species, so the paragenesis has made this mine famous throughout the world.

I started to visit this locality when I was 14 years old, and I have never stopped visiting it since. So I must have been to visit it well over a 100 times. For many years the sale of mineral specimens from the mine was forbidden, as Wolfram was a strategic mineral. So the moments I passed there acquiring specimens could form the basis of quite an exciting book! Over the years I got to know miners, shift managers, administration staff, engineers and geologists. Some were friendly while others were not, but they were all interested in not only the money they could obtain from 'as pedras' ('the rocks' in Portuguese) but also the beauty of the specimens.

Quite a few years ago, and at the same time as Portugal began to change after its entry into the European Union, things began to become easier. However, unfortunately, obtaining good specimens has one again got more difficult, but this time due to the way the mine is worked and the lower grade seams. All that said, I'm still 'trapped' by the beauty of the minerals and the large number of friends I have developed over all those years.

If you want more general and scientific information on this great mine you can get it by following this link. It leads you to a page where we have reproduced text and photos from one of the few publications produced by the mine itself.

Fluorapatite

Fluorapatite with Muscovite

HM90MF: Tabular Fluorapatite crystal, between transparent and translucent, with good luster and very distinct geometric zoning in different shades of green, from paler to deeper, along with small lamellar crystals of Muscovite.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 3 X 2.4 X 1.6 cm = 1.18”

minID: HAQ-3N0

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Chlorite and Calcite

NE46AL5: A novelty at the Sainte Marie 2020 Virtual show: Group of elongated pale yellow to violet Fluorapatite crystals with zoning that forms white geometric bands in the terminal areas, on a Quartz crystal, partially covered by Chlorite and small crystals of Calcite. The specimen, completely different from those known so far from Panasqueira, comes from a small vug that produced few pieces.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (02/2020)

Specimen size: 5.2 × 2.6 × 1.5 cm = 2.05” × 1.02” × 0.59”

Main crystal size: 3.6 × 0.7 cm = 1.42” × 0.28”

Zoned fluorescence long & short UV

minID: 83D-TDM

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Chlorite and Calcite.

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Sphalerite, Muscovite and Chlorite

NJ36AL5: A novelty at the Sainte Marie 2020 Virtual show: Group of elongated pale yellow to violet Fluorapatite crystals with zoning that forms white geometric bands in the terminal areas, on matrix, with Sphalerite, Quartz crystals, leafy aggregates of Muscovite and small coatings of Chlorite. The specimen, completely different from those known so far from Panasqueira, comes from a small vug that produced few pieces.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (02/2020)

Specimen size: 7.6 × 5.2 × 3.4 cm = 2.99” × 2.05” × 1.34”

Main crystal size: 1.6 × 0.5 cm = 0.63” × 0.20”

Zoned fluorescence long & short UV

minID: YFF-FN9

Fluorapatite

NB11M7: A group of two violet crystals, with zoned color and a cluster of small crystals on its side. On the back, there is a neat contact. The crystals have small damage on the edges.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 2.2 × 1.8 × 1.2 cm = 0.87” × 0.71” × 0.47”

Main crystal size: 1.3 × 1.2 cm = 0.51” × 0.47”

Minor fluorescence short UV

Fluorapatite with Ferberite, Siderite and Muscovite

ND29AG4: Fluorapatite crystals, one of them clearly dominant, very rich in faces, transparent and very bright with very well defined faces and edges and implanted on a single Ferberite crystal partially coated by Siderite and Muscovite. Both the color and the crystallographic shape of the Fluorapatite are different than usual for this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (10/2017)

Specimen size: 3.4 × 3 × 2 cm = 1.34” × 1.18” × 0.79”

Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.2 cm = 0.59” × 0.47”

Zoned fluorescence long & short UV

Fluorapatite with Ferberite, Siderite and Muscovite

NB68AG4: Two Fluorapatite crystals, one of them clearly dominant, transparent and very bright, with very well defined faces and edges and implanted on a single Ferberite crystal partially coated by Siderite and Muscovite. Both the color and the crystallographic shape of the Fluorapatite are different than usual for this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (10/2017)

Specimen size: 5.6 × 2.6 × 2.3 cm = 2.20” × 1.02” × 0.91”

Main crystal size: 1.2 × 0.9 cm = 0.47” × 0.35”

Zoned fluorescence long & short UV

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Fluorapatite with Ferberite, Siderite and Muscovite

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Rear

NC97AG4: Fluorapatite crystals, one of them clearly dominant, equant, transparent and very bright, with very well defined faces and edges and implanted on a single doubly terminated Ferberite crystal partially coated by Siderite and Muscovite. Both the color and the crystallographic shape of the Fluorapatite are different than usual for this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (10/2017)

Specimen size: 5.7 × 4.3 × 1.8 cm = 2.24” × 1.69” × 0.71”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.7 cm = 0.39” × 0.28”

Zoned fluorescence long & short UV

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Muscovite, Arsenopyrite and Calcite

AM66Z8: Thin tabular Fluorapatite crystal, transparent, with very well marked concentric geometric color zoning and implanted on a matrix of Quartz crystals with small Arsenopyrite crystals and Calcite coatings.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1987-2013)

Specimen size: 3.8 × 3.2 × 4.5 cm = 1.50” × 1.26” × 1.77”

Main crystal size: 3.4 × 2.6 cm = 1.34” × 1.02”

Fluorescent long & short UV

Former collection of Alain Martaud

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Muscovite, Arsenopyrite and Calcite.

Fluorapatite with inclusions and Muscovite

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Fluorapatite with inclusions and Muscovite.

NC62AD2: Tabular crystal with a well developed very short prism, the pinacoid and a flat pyramid. It is transparent, very bright with a color between green and golden and it’s implanted on a rocky matrix with leafy Muscovite aggregates.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (08/2015)

Specimen size: 3.9 × 3.6 × 3.2 cm = 1.54” × 1.42” × 1.26”

Main crystal size: 1.8 × 1.3 cm = 0.71” × 0.51”

Fluorescent long & short UV

Fluorapatite

MK96AE6: A Fluorapatite crystal, unusual due to its very elongated shape. It has very well defined faces and edges, is between transparent and translucent, and has a pale green color with geometric color zones having different green shades that appear as “phantom” growths. It is with small Arsenopyrite crystals on the prism faces.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 4.2 × 2.9 × 1.2 cm = 1.65” × 1.14” × 0.47”

Fluorescence short UV & minor fluorescence long UV

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Fluorapatite with Calcite and Pyrite

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Fluorapatite with Calcite and Pyrite. Top

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MB68AD4: Aggregate, on a Calcite matrix, of two thick tabular crystals, one of them clearly dominant, with a dark green color, translucent, bright and with concentric color zones. Different from the more common Fluorapatite from this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2011)

Specimen size: 5 × 4.2 × 3.7 cm = 1.97” × 1.65” × 1.46”

Main crystal size: 4 × 3.3 cm = 1.57” × 1.30”

Intense fluorescence short UV & fluorescent long UV

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Siderite and Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TTM27AN6: Group of Fluorapatite crystals with a short prismatic habit, doubly terminated, translucent, lustrous, and green with geometric color zoning. They are implanted on a translucent Quartz crystal coated with rhombohedral Siderite crystals and leafy Muscovite aggregates.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 5.2 × 4.8 × 3.4 cm = 2.05” × 1.89” × 1.34”

Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1 cm = 0.59” × 0.39”

Intense zoned fluorescence long & short UV

Fluorapatite with Quartz, Siderite and Muscovite.

Fluorapatite with Siderite

TC180MP: Floater group of Fluorapatite crystals with very well defined faces and edges, translucent, with good luster and an intense green color, with geometric color zoning and small coatings of lenticular Siderite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 5.9 × 3.8 × 3.3 cm = 2.32” × 1.50” × 1.30”

Main crystal size: 3.6 × 3.5 cm = 1.42” × 1.38”

Fluorapatite with Calcite and Pyrite

NG36AJ5: Floater tabular crystal with anomalous growths at the base and without damage. It is transparent and bright, has very well defined geometric growths, is partially coated by Calcite and it is with small Pyrite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 6 × 3.1 × 1.7 cm = 2.36” × 1.22” × 0.67”

Fluorescence short UV & minor fluorescence long UV

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Fluorapatite with Siderite

AQ26Z0: Aggregate of short prismatic Fluorapatite crystals. They are translucent, bright, have a pale green color and are coated by Siderite on the back on the sample.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1987-2013)

Specimen size: 6.4 × 2.9 × 2.1 cm = 2.52” × 1.14” × 0.83”

Main crystal size: 2 × 0.9 cm = 0.79” × 0.35”

Former collection of Alain Martaud

Intense fluorescence short UV & fluorescent long UV

Fluorapatite with Arsenopyrite and Muscovite

EP92AH7: Single Fluorapatite crystal with a thin tabular shape and with a very well defined concentric color zoning. On a matrix of Arsenopyrite crystals with botryoidal Muscovite aggregates. At Panasqueira this kind of concentric growth, differentiated on the periphery and the central area, is well known as “olho de boi” (ox eye), a particularity that is especially obvious on this sample.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (12/2012)

Specimen size: 7.4 × 5.5 × 2.6 cm = 2.91” × 2.17” × 1.02”

Main crystal size: 3.4 × 2.3 cm = 1.34” × 0.91”

Fluorescence short UV & minor fluorescence long UV

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Fluorapatite with Arsenopyrite and Muscovite.

Fluorapatite with Pyrite and Siderite

EV91AM1: Group of Fluorapatite crystals with a thick tabular to short prismatic habit, translucent, with an intense green color with geometric color zoning, on matrix. With lenticular crystals of Siderite and small crystals of Pyrite. The specimen comes from a recent find in Panasqueira.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (07-08/2020)

Specimen size: 8.7 × 8.2 × 4.9 cm = 3.43” × 3.23” × 1.93”

Main crystal size: 5.6 × 4.2 cm = 2.20” × 1.65”

Fluorescent long & short UV

minID: 7HC-KMT

Fluorapatite with Ferberite, Siderite, Quartz and Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TF26AF0: A cluster of translucent thick tabular color-zoned Fluorapatite crystals with a lovely pale green color They are on matrix with Muscovite, platy Siderite crystals, Ferberite and Quartz.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 8.8 × 7.4 × 4 cm = 3.46” × 2.91” × 1.57”

Main crystal size: 6.1 × 2.2 cm = 2.40” × 0.87”

Fluorescent long & short UV

Former collection of George Loud

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Fluorapatite with Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TC2180NBJ: Fluorapatite crystals with a short prismatic shape, transparent, very lustrous, and pale green in color with geometric zoning, on matrix, with leafy Muscovite aggregates.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (±2004)

Specimen size: 9.1 × 7 × 5.3 cm = 3.58” × 2.76” × 2.09”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.7 cm = 0.39” × 0.28”

Fluorapatite with Siderite and Muscovite

N88GK9: Group of crystals of Fluorapatite, with an attractive pale green color and excellent brilliance, on matrix, with Muscovite and Siderite.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2000)

Specimen size: 13.3 × 7.8 × 5.6 cm = 5.24” × 3.07” × 2.20”

Main crystal size: 1.4 × 0.8 cm = 0.55” × 0.31”

Minor fluorescence long & short UV

Fluorapatite with Siderite and Muscovite.

Fluorapatite with Siderite, Muscovite, Marcasite and Arsenopyrite

PV91AJ5: Thick tabular Fluorapatite crystals with a very well defined concentric color zoning, a kind of growth that at Panasqueira is well-known as 'olho de boi' (ox eye). The Fluorapatite crystals are on matrix with crystals of Arsenopyrite, pale brown lenticular Siderite, Muscovite and Marcasite.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 15.3 × 9.2 × 5.8 cm = 6.02” × 3.62” × 2.28”

Main crystal size: 2.5 × 2 cm = 0.98” × 0.79”

Fluorescence short UV & minor fluorescence long UV

Fluorapatite with Quartz and Siderite

NY87AM8: Transparent Quartz crystal partially covered by very elongated prismatic Fluorapatite crystals, many of them doubly terminated, with a light yellow color, and with lenticular crystals of Siderite.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1999)

Specimen size: 19.9 × 5.5 × 5 cm = 7.83” × 2.17” × 1.97”

Minor fluorescence long & short UV

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Ferberite

Ferberite with Siderite and Pyrite

HM180VF: Ferberite crystal, on matrix, very aerial, with very well marked parallel polycrystalline growths, lustrous, and partially covered by lenticular crystals of Siderite and small cubic Pyrite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 8.6 × 5.6 × 5.8 cm = 3.39” × 2.20” × 2.28”

Main crystal size: 7.4 × 4.6 cm = 2.91” × 1.81”

minID: V23-851

Ferberite with Calcite-Dolomite and Pyrite

TC69AL3: Floater group of Ferberite crystals, elongated, flattened and in parallel growth, with good terminations, lustrous, and partially covered with lenticular Calcite-Dolomite crystals and small Pyrite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 11.2 × 6.3 × 3.6 cm = 4.41” × 2.48” × 1.42”

Main crystal size: 10.5 × 6.1 cm = 4.13” × 2.40”

minID: JMN-HE0

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Ferberite with Arsenopyrite, Quartz and Muscovite

Front / Photo: Joaquim Callén

Detail / Photo: Joaquim Callén

EG36AM5: Parallel growth of two very sharp Ferberite crystals on matrix with Arsenopyrite and Quartz crystals and coatings of Muscovite aggregates. Large in size, the piece is more aesthetic than usual due to the contrast of the Ferberite crystals with the Muscovite matrix.
Minas da Panasqueira, levels 0-1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (05/2019)

Specimen size: 19 × 16.4 × 7.8 cm = 7.48” × 6.46” × 3.07”

Main crystal size: 5 × 4.4 cm = 1.97” × 1.73”

Sulfides

Pyrite

CK36D3: Colored Pyrite with curved cubes covering a flat Calcite matrix.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 12 × 10 × 1.3 cm = 4.72” × 3.94” × 0.51”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.9 cm = 0.39” × 0.35”

Arsenopyrite with Muscovite

HM220NX: Group of Arsenopyrite crystals with very well defined crystal forms and good terminations. The matrix is composed of leafy aggregates of lamellar Muscovite crystals.

Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (±2005)

Specimen size: 5.5 × 4.3 × 3.8 cm = 2.17” × 1.69” × 1.50”

minID: 9R6-JQG

Arsenopyrite with Muscovite

NB37AL3: Iridescent crystals of Arsenopyrite that form a closed aggregate, with parallel curvatures and growths, very lustrous, with small aggregates of lamellar Muscovite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (±2005)

Specimen size: 6.6 × 6.2 × 3.6 cm = 2.60” × 2.44” × 1.42”

Main crystal size: 4.1 × 1.4 cm = 1.61” × 0.55”

minID: L52-3FE

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Arsenopyrite-Marcasite with Ferberite and Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

ETX67AP0: Parallel epitactic growths of Arsenopyrite-Marcasite crystals with very well defined and sharp crystal forms. Brilliant, with iridescence of various colors and on matrix. With Ferberite crystals, lenticular Siderite crystals and coatings of lamellar Muscovite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, levels 0-1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2020)

Specimen size: 5 × 4.8 × 4.3 cm = 1.97” × 1.89” × 1.69”

Main crystal size: 3.8 × 1.5 cm = 1.50” × 0.59”

Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite and Siderite

AD66Z0: Sphalerite crystals with very well defined faces and edges, with very well marked growth striations and superficial Chalcopyrite, and with very sharp Arsenopyrite crystals and lenticular Siderite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1987-2013)

Specimen size: 3.7 × 3.2 × 2.8 cm = 1.46” × 1.26” × 1.10”

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

Former collection of Alain Martaud

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Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite and Siderite. Top

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Carbonates

Siderite with Fluorapatite

MF14AH7: Floater rhombohedral Siderite crystal with apparent foliations that really are recrystallizations. Its honey color and the transparency are not usual for Siderite from this mine, generally it is more opaque. There is an associated growth of uncommon doubly terminated Fluorapatite crystals, between translucent and transparent, bright and white in color. These unexpected Fluorapatite crystals have been analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (10/2015)

Specimen size: 2.7 × 2.5 × 1.2 cm = 1.06” × 0.98” × 0.47”

Siderite with Ferberite and Quartz

MD12AE6: Elegant, platy Siderite crystals with a warm brown color. They are implanted on a twinned Ferberite crystal and are with transparent colorless Quartz.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 3.8 × 3 × 3.1 cm = 1.50” × 1.18” × 1.22”

Main crystal size: 2.8 × 1.1 cm = 1.10” × 0.43”

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Siderite with Quartz and Arsenopyrite

NY13AB1: Aggregate of prismatic Siderite crystals with pinacoidal terminations. They have a very uniform dark brown color and silky luster due to microcrystalline surfaces on the prisms. The Siderite is with a small matrix of Quartz and Arsenopyrite and has cubic Pyrite microcrystals on its faces. Unlike most Panasqueira Siderite, this sample lacks the typically dull creamy second generation, which makes it very showy.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (11/2014)

Specimen size: 4.3 × 3.3 × 2 cm = 1.69” × 1.30” × 0.79”

Main crystal size: 2.5 × 2 cm = 0.98” × 0.79”

Siderite with Quartz

N14CK9: Barrel-shaped crystals of Siderite on a group of Quartz crystals and small crystals of Arsenopyrite and Pyrite.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1997)

Specimen size: 7.2 × 6.4 × 5.2 cm = 2.83” × 2.52” × 2.05”

Main crystal size: 1.6 × 1.2 cm = 0.63” × 0.47”

Siderite with Quartz and Calcite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TC280NCG: Siderite crystal with a lenticular shape, with bright luster and light brown color, attached to a Quartz crystal and covered by small Calcite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (±2004)

Specimen size: 8 × 4.7 × 4.6 cm = 3.15” × 1.85” × 1.81”

Main crystal size: 4.7 × 4.3 cm = 1.85” × 1.69”

Siderite with Pyrite and Quartz

Fluorescent light (daylight)

NBE26AN4: Aerial group of Siderite crystals with a lenticular habit, very sharp crystal forms, a silky luster and a light brown color. They are partially covered by small cubic Pyrite crystals and are on a matrix of Quartz crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1998)

Specimen size: 9.6 × 6.4 × 3.2 cm = 3.78” × 2.52” × 1.26”

Main crystal size: 4.2 × 1.4 cm = 1.65” × 0.55”

Siderite

AR47Z8: Big lenticular crystal with a clear brown color and very well defined faces and edges that underline its complete contour. It has a well-developed flat pinacoidal surface and very well marked parallel growths on its rhombohedral faces.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1987-2013)

Specimen size: 9.7 × 9.7 × 3 cm = 3.82” × 3.82” × 1.18”

Former collection of Alain Martaud

Siderite with Quartz

NW27AM8: Group of transparent Quartz crystals partially covered by tabular Siderite crystals, with a light cream color and high quality.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1999)

Specimen size: 10.5 × 6.8 × 4.6 cm = 4.13” × 2.68” × 1.81”

Main crystal size: 10.5 × 3.4 cm = 4.13” × 1.34”

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Siderite with Quartz

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NC64G8: An encrustation of little crystals of Siderite covers the rhombohedral terminal faces of a Quartz prism. Two of the crystals have a big size enhancing from the group.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2004)

Specimen size: 11.1 × 6.2 × 5 cm = 4.37” × 2.44” × 1.97”

Siderite with Quartz, Chalcopyrite and Muscovite

NC76AB5: Aggregate of lenticular Siderite crystals, one of them clearly dominant, with very well defined faces and edges and on a crystalline Quartz matrix with leafy Muscovite aggregates and a very well defined Chalcopyrite crystal.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2004)

Specimen size: 11.4 × 5.5 × 3.2 cm = 4.49” × 2.17” × 1.26”

Main crystal size: 5.6 × 4.6 cm = 2.20” × 1.81”

Siderite with Quartz and inclusions

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Siderite with Quartz and inclusions. Top

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E12EK9: Flattened rhombohedral Siderite crystal group, covering Quartz and small crystals of Arsenopyrite and Pyrite some of them included on the Quartz.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1997)

Specimen size: 11.8 × 8.6 × 5.5 cm = 4.65” × 3.39” × 2.17”

Main crystal size: 1.7 × 1.6 cm = 0.67” × 0.63”

Siderite with Pyrite, Quartz and Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TR49AJ5: Great group of Siderite crystals with the predominant forms of the short prism and a flattened rhombohedron. They have a brown color and are partially coated by small Pyrite crystals and are on matrix with crystals of Quartz, leafy Muscovite aggregates, Arsenopyrite and cubic Pyrite.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 12.3 × 11.6 × 8.5 cm = 4.84” × 4.57” × 3.35”

Main crystal size: 7 × 4.3 cm = 2.76” × 1.69”

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Siderite with Quartz with Ferberite inclusions

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Rear

Fluorescent light (daylight)

EXB67AP1: Very aerial group of lenticular Siderite crystals of considerable size, one of them clearly dominant and very aerial, light cream in color and implanted on a crystal of Quartz with inclusions of small Ferberite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, levels 0-1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2021)

Specimen size: 12.7 × 7.4 × 5.4 cm = 5.00” × 2.91” × 2.13”

Main crystal size: 7.4 × 6.1 cm = 2.91” × 2.40”

Siderite with Fluorapatite and Mica

NR16AM8: Two generations of Siderite crystals, a first with large, tabular crystals, and a second generation of small, lenticular crystals, with a color between brown and cream, with small tabular Fluorapatite crystals and groups of lamellar Muscovite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2000)

Specimen size: 12.8 × 8.3 × 4.7 cm = 5.04” × 3.27” × 1.85”

Main crystal size: 5 × 4.8 cm = 1.97” × 1.89”

Siderite on Quartz with Pyrite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

NE94AM8: Large quartz crystal partially covered by groups of rhombohedral Siderite crystals with polycrystalline growths, with a light cream color and small Pyrite crystals. Monumental.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2000)

Specimen size: 23.7 × 12.4 × 8.1 cm = 9.33” × 4.88” × 3.19”

Quartz

Quartz with Siderite and Dolomite

HM80NG: Parallel growth of Quartz crystals on matrix, transparent, lustrous, very rich in inclusions and with lenticular Siderite and Dolomite crystals in which rhombohedral forms dominate.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1997)

Specimen size: 6.8 × 5.7 × 3.7 cm = 2.68” × 2.24” × 1.46”

Main crystal size: 5.5 × 3.5 cm = 2.17” × 1.38”

minID: DQX-PUA

Quartz with Fluorapatite inclusions and with Muscovite, Siderite and Calcite

EF92AA2: Thin laminar Fluorapatite crystal included in a Quartz crystal partially coated by Siderite and Muscovite. Visible crystalline inclusions of Fluorapatite are very rare. In this the sample, approximately half of a crystal can be seen and it has concentric geometrical color zones with a dominant yellowish-green color.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (05/2014)

Specimen size: 9.5 × 5.1 × 3.8 cm = 3.74” × 2.01” × 1.50”

Main crystal size: 2.4 × 1.1 cm = 0.94” × 0.43”

Fluorescence short UV & minor fluorescence long UV

Quartz with Arsenopyrite, Marcasite, Siderite, Calcite and Muscovite

NK96AJ5: Single Quartz crystal with a very aerial growth of Marcasite-Arsenopyrite, leafy Muscovite growths, and crystals of small lenticular Siderite and white Calcite.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2004)

Specimen size: 10.1 × 8.8 × 3.9 cm = 3.98” × 3.46” × 1.54”

Main crystal size: 9.1 × 6.3 cm = 3.58” × 2.48”

Quartz with inclusions, Sphalerite and Siderite

N17PQZ4: Group of Quartz crystals, some of them forming parallel growths, with inclusions and partially coated by lenticular Siderite crystals and small tetrahedral Sphalerite crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 2, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1994)

Specimen size: 13.4 × 7.8 × 6.2 cm = 5.28” × 3.07” × 2.44”

Main crystal size: 11.5 × 2.8 cm = 4.53” × 1.10”

Quartz with Siderite, Pyrite, Ferberite and Fluorapatite

NH57AD6: Floater aggregate of two Quartz crystals with the most typical forms on the front side and polycrystalline growths on the back. They are partially coated by Siderite, Pyrite and Fluorapatite and have some small inclusions of very well defined Arsenopyrite.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1999)

Specimen size: 22 × 11 × 5.5 cm = 8.66” × 4.33” × 2.17”

Main crystal size: 17.8 × 5.5 cm = 7.01” × 2.17”

Fluorapatite fluorescent short UV

Quartz with Siderite, Pyrite, Ferberite and Fluorapatite.

Fluorite

Fluorite with Quartz, Muscovite and Chlorite

TC90NM: Cubo-octahedral Fluorite crystals with a color between blue and lilac that cover the lower part of a water-clear Quartz crystal partially covered by Chlorite, with small aggregates of Muscovite. From the upper levels of Panasqueira, surprising and pleasant news continues to appear, with specimens that are different from those known before.
Minas da Panasqueira, levels 0-1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (04/2017)

Specimen size: 4.1 × 1.8 × 1.5 cm = 1.61” × 0.71” × 0.59”

Fluorite with Siderite and Quartz

SM80NEH: Cubic crystals of Fluorite beveled by the rhombohedron, with rough faces due to polycrystalline growths and with purple phantoms. Transparent, blue with violet tones, on matrix with Quartz crystals and small tabular Siderite crystals with geometric color zoning.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (08/2015)

Specimen size: 4.6 × 3.5 × 2.1 cm = 1.81” × 1.38” × 0.83”

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

Fluorite with Fluorapatite, Arsenopyrite and Muscovite

Fluorescent light (daylight)

TC2170NKL: Group of translucent, lustrous green Fluorapatite crystals, with small Arsenopyrite crystals, lamellar Muscovite crystals and partially covered by spheroidal aggregates of Fluorite with a color between blue and lilac.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (11/2014)

Specimen size: 5 × 4 × 2.8 cm = 1.97” × 1.57” × 1.10”

Main crystal size: 2.9 × 1.6 cm = 1.14” × 0.63”

Fluorite on Topaz with Quartz and Arsenopyrite

NE48AF3: Group of very flattened Fluorite crystals with the very well defined forms of the cube and dodecahedron. The Fluorite, with a lilac-blue color, has grown partially following the forms of the Quartz, Topaz and Arsenopyrite crystals where it is covering them. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what has been known from this mine.
The Fluorite and the Topaz have been analyzed and we’ll send a copy of both analysis to the buyer.
Minas da Panasqueira, levels 0-1, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (04/2017)

Specimen size: 5 × 5 × 2.6 cm = 1.97” × 1.97” × 1.02”

Front

Rear

Fluorite with Quartz, Chlorite and Muscovite

MT26AB1: Aggregate of cubic Fluorite crystals beveled by the dodecahedron. They are colorless, with rough faces due to micro-crystalline growths, and have violet phantoms. They are on matrix, with Quartz crystals, Chlorite coatings and small Muscovite aggregates. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what has been known from this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (06/2014)

Specimen size: 3.8 × 3 × 2.6 cm = 1.50” × 1.18” × 1.02”

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

Fluorite with Quartz and Siderite

NT37AB8: Fluorite crystal formed by the well balanced cube and dodecahedron faces. Its exterior is pale blue and it has a deep violet octahedral center and white inclusions. The crystal is implanted on a Quartz crystal with laminar Siderite and small Muscovite crystals. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what has been known from this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (01/2015)

Specimen size: 6.4 × 2.5 × 3.5 cm = 2.52” × 0.98” × 1.38”

Main crystal size: 2.3 × 2 cm = 0.91” × 0.79”

Minor fluorescence short UV

Front

Side

Fluorite with Quartz, Siderite and Chlorite

NC56AD6: Translucent and colorless dodecahedral Fluorite crystals formed by growths of multiple small Fluorite crystals, with very well defined faces and edges. These unusual crystals have grown on a Quartz crystal partially coated by Chlorite and white Siderite crystals and Pyrite microcrystals. We’ll send a copy of the analysis to the buyer of this sample.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (07/2014)

Specimen size: 10.7 × 3.9 × 4.4 cm = 4.21” × 1.54” × 1.73”

Main crystal size: 1.1 × 1.1 cm = 0.43” × 0.43”

Minor fluorescence short UV

Fluorite with Fluorapatite and Muscovite

NA7AA7: Small spheroidal aggregates of cubo-octahedral Fluorite crystals with a color between blue and lilac. They are partially coating the faces of a group of translucent Fluorapatite crystals with a yellowish-green color. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what is already known.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (11/2014)

Specimen size: 3.4 × 3.2 × 1.3 cm = 1.34” × 1.26” × 0.51”

Main crystal size: 2.1 × 1.7 cm = 0.83” × 0.67”

Fluorite low fluorescence and Fluorapatite very fluorescent (in zones) under short wave UV and low fluorescence under long wave UV

Fluorite with Fluorapatite and Muscovite.

Octahedral Fluorite with Cassiterite

Front

Rear

AF98Z8: Octahedral crystal, a very rare crystalline form for Fluorite from Panasqueira. It is translucent, with a bluish-green color and white areas on the vertices. There is also a small and very bright group of cyclic Cassiterite twins on the underside of the crystal.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (1987-2013)

Specimen size: 4 × 3.9 × 2.9 cm = 1.57” × 1.54” × 1.14”

Former collection of Alain Martaud

Minor fluorescence long & short UV

Topaz

Topaz with Arsenopyrite, Fluorite, Muscovite and Chlorite

NB27AF2: Topaz crystals with very well defined faces and edges, between transparent and translucent, with very well defined faces and edges, a slightly bluish color and with very sharp and bright Arsenopyrite crystals, small Fluorite crystals, leafy Muscovite aggregates and partially coated by Chlorite. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what has been known from this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2015)

Specimen size: 6.1 × 4.6 × 2 cm = 2.40” × 1.81” × 0.79”

Main crystal size: 1.6 × 1.4 cm = 0.63” × 0.55”

Fluorescent short UV

Topaz with Arsenopyrite, Fluorite, Muscovite and Chlorite.

Topaz with Arsenopyrite, Muscovite and Quartz

NB76AB6: Flattened Topaz crystals, one of them clearly dominant. They are white, between translucent and transparent, and they are on a Quartz and Arsenopyrite matrix partially coated by Chlorite, with small Muscovite aggregates. The upper levels of Panasqueira are currently offering surprising and pleasant novelties, with samples that are very different from what has been known from this mine.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 0, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (03/2015)

Specimen size: 7.1 × 6.1 × 3.8 cm = 2.80” × 2.40” × 1.50”

Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.1 cm = 0.59” × 0.43”

Fluorescent short UV

Galena

Galena with Pyrite and Calcite

TE66AB7: Aggregate of bright cubo-octahedral Galena crystals unusually well developed that have a large size for the locality. They are with small Calcite crystals and are on matrix, with Chalcopyrite. Galena is a very rare species at Panasqueira, especially forming such well defined crystals.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal

Specimen size: 3.5 × 2.7 × 2.7 cm = 1.38” × 1.06” × 1.06”

Main crystal size: 1.1 × 0.8 cm = 0.43” × 0.31”

Front

Top

Stannite

Arsenopyrite with Stannite, Calcite and Pyrite

NH16X9: Parallel polycrystalline Arsenopyrite growths with dark gray Stannite intergrowths and leafy Muscovite aggregates, partially coated by small white Calcite crystals and aggregates of cubic Pyrite crystals. We’ll send a copy of the analysis of the Arsenopyrite to the buyer.
Minas da Panasqueira, level 3, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro Portugal (2001)

Specimen size: 6.7 × 5.4 × 4.1 cm = 2.64” × 2.13” × 1.61”

PORTUGAL

Preguiça Mine

Descloizite is a mineral not well known in good quality specimens from the European continent. Even considering that the Preguiça Mine, in Portugal, was known for years for its Descloizite and a wide variety of zinc minerals, the quality of the samples was not especially high because the crystals were too small or not esthetic.
Between 2005 and 2006 groups of collectors from Huelva (Spain) were intensely working that mine and finally found some pockets with specimens of Descloizite of high quality, some of them particularly esthetic (and scarce) stalactitic or columnar and associated with white Calcite.
In our opinion these specimens can be considered as the best Descloizites found in Europe.

Just to be certain, we analyzed them and the analysis proved that they are definitely Descloizite. To be more exact, slightly copper rich Descloizite, but the mineral species is Descloizite. We will send a copy of this analysis to our customers who buy this material.

Descloizite with Calcite

NF26J1: Group of extraordinarily defined and bright small crystals. These crystals are dipyramidal, of very well defined faces and edges and many of them doubly terminated. In this case Descloizite is the base of a group of scalenohedral crystals of white Calcite.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 6.7 × 5.9 × 3.7 cm = 2.64” × 2.32” × 1.46”

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

Front

Side

Descloizite with Calcite

ND26T4: Columnar growths of small dipyramidal crystals of Descloizite, partially coated by white crystals of Calcite and on a matrix of limonite.
The specimen has been published in the Chinese magazine ‘Mineral Lover’ on page 6 in the volume 9/2011
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 7 × 5.7 × 3.8 cm = 2.76” × 2.24” × 1.50”

Descloizite with Calcite

NR56T4: Aggregate of dipyramidal crystals of Descloizite with very well defined faces and edges and very bright, with crystals of Calcite, between colorless and white, on limonite matrix.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 7.3 × 5.1 × 4.1 cm = 2.87” × 2.01” × 1.61”

Descloizite with Calcite

NZ63V8: Very aerial and esthetic columnar growths of small but extraordinarily defined and bright crystals. Those are dipyramidal and have very well defined faces and edges and most of them are doubly terminated. The matrix is a group of crystals of white Calcite.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 7.7 × 3.8 × 2.7 cm = 3.03” × 1.50” × 1.06”

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

Descloizite with Calcite

NY66M9: Group, on Limonite matrix, of small crystals, very bright and most of them doubly terminated and forming dipyramids of very well defined faces and edges. The group is partially covered by a "nest" of white crystals of
Calcite.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 7.8 × 7.6 × 4.9 cm = 3.07” × 2.99” × 1.93”

Descloizite with Calcite

Front

Rear

NK86T4: Columnar growths of small dipyramidal crystals of Descloizite with very well defined faces and edges and very bright. On stalagmitic botryoidal growths of Calcite and crystals of the same mineral, clear and very bright.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 10.9 × 4.3 × 3.4 cm = 4.29” × 1.69” × 1.34”

Calcite minor fluorescence long & short UV

Descloizite with Calcite

NR47I7: Group on Limonite matrix of small very bright crystals, most of them doubly terminated, forming dipyramids with very well-defined faces and edges. The specimen is very esthetic because of its attractive crests and vugs. A wide surface of the sample is covered by a layer of acute scalenohedron of white Calcite.
Preguiça Mine, Sobral da Adiça, Moura, Beja District, Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Portugal (2005-2006)

Specimen size: 14 × 11.8 × 6.2 cm = 5.51” × 4.65” × 2.44”

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