Expominer Virtual 2022

The Vault

MBL98AP3: Group of prismatic Pyromorphite crystals, many of them doubly terminated and with color zoning in the center of the crystals, some of them thicker and with hopper terminations. With small traces of matrix formed by tiny Galena crystals. In LED light, the specimen exhibits the greenish tones so typical of this deposit. From a classic locality for the mineralogy of Spain and the European Union, Minas de El Horcajo evokes splendid times in which green lead shone in the darkness of the Malacate and Argentífero shafts. Specimens from this locality and with this quality are increasingly difficult to obtain.
El Horcajo Mines, El Horcajo, Almodóvar del Campo, Comarca Campo de Calatrava, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha  Spain (±1910)

Specimen size: 6.7 × 4.8 × 3.2 cm = 2.64” × 1.89” × 1.26”

Main crystal size: 2.1 × 0.6 cm = 0.83” × 0.24”

MLX47AP3: Obtained at Munich 2022
Parallel growths of prismatic crystals of Beryl (emerald variety), doubly terminated, between transparent and translucent, with a very uniform green color, with three of the crystals clearly dominant. A gem quality floater sourced from the world's classic locality for the species, Muzo in Colombia. The color of the emerald is caused by chromophores like trivalent chromium or vanadium.
Muzo mining district, Western Emerald Belt, Boyacá Department  Colombia (2022)

Specimen size: 2.5 × 2 × 1.1 cm = 0.98” × 0.79” × 0.43”

Main crystal size: 1.7 × 0.8 cm = 0.67” × 0.31”

TPA62AP3: Enormous crystal of Bismuth with well defined faces and edges, a metallic grey color, on a crystalline Chalcopyrite matrix. On the back it exhibits polysynthetic twinning and dissolution forms. Among the largest crystals known for the species.
From the Piaotang Mine in China where tungsten and tin are extracted from quartz veins.
Piaotang Mine, Dayu, Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province  China (2021)

Specimen size: 7.5 × 7.2 × 4.2 cm = 2.95” × 2.83” × 1.65”

Main crystal size: 7.5 × 4.5 cm = 2.95” × 1.77”

MFR6AP3: One of the best, if not the best, Imayoshiite of very large size, coming from the 2021 finds that yielded the best known so far for the species. On a good size group of very lustrous twinned Sphalerite crystals several Calcite crystals with dominant scalenohedral forms have been precipitated and then were in turn covered almost entirely by whitish Tobermorite-Clinotobermorite crystals and, finally, a large quantity of Imayoshiite crystals of a pale cream color. Thanks to three "windows" in the Calcite crystals we can see the whole process of formation. This very "geological" specimen has been analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
To learn more about this species and the rest of the paragenesis discovered so far in this mine it is essential to read the article ‘Rare Borate Minerals from the Shijiangshan-Shalonggou Deposits, Hexigten Banner, Inner Mongolia, China', whose authors are César Menor-Salván, Berthold Ottens and Ed Richard, featured in Rocks & Minerals, September/October 2021, volume 96, number 5
Shijiangshan Mine, Yinwu, Linxi, Ulanhad League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region  China (09/2021)

Specimen size: 22.3 × 13.7 × 4.8 cm = 8.78” × 5.39” × 1.89”

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