MCP srl

1 day ago

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Geometry suspended in light

Some minerals fascinate through complexity of form.
Others through the intensity of colour.
Naica selenite speaks an entirely different language: precision, transparency and light.

This specimen displays an exceptionally clean crystal blade, with luminous and transparent surfaces that allow light to pass through almost effortlessly. The elongated and flattened growth further enhances the natural elegance of the species, creating a composition that feels both essential and remarkably dramatic.

From an aesthetic perspective, the contrast between the dark matrix and the perfectly transparent crystal creates a natural balance highly appreciated by collectors of transparent minerals.

It is exactly this harmony between simple geometry, optical quality and visual presence that makes the finest Naica specimens so extraordinary.

👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Naica Mine, Naica, Saucillo Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico
📏 Dimensions: Height: 7 cm – Width: 5 cm – Depth: 7 cm – Main crystal: 4.5 cm
👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it

📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani

#minerals #selenite #Gypsum #Naica #crystals #mineralcollection #fineminerals #geology #crystalcollector #mcpminerals ... Vedi altroVedi meno

MCP srl

4 days ago

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Pure transparency

Very often, in mineral collecting, it is intense colour that immediately captures the eye. Saturated crystals, vivid contrasts and spectacular compositions quickly become the centre of attention.

Yet there are specimens capable of reaching a higher level of elegance by choosing the exact opposite path: the complete absence of colour.

This selenite from the legendary Naica Mine perfectly expresses the idea of pure aesthetics. A transparent crystal blade rises from the dark matrix with an essential, almost minimalist geometry, transforming light and transparency into the true protagonists of the specimen.

The balance between crystal and matrix, the sharpness of the surfaces and the extraordinary clarity of the gypsum make this piece particularly refined. It is precisely this apparent simplicity that makes it so rare.

Naica is one of the world’s most famous localities for gypsum var. selenite, yet finding specimens that preserve this level of transparency, compositional elegance and crystal quality is far less common than many collectors imagine.

👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!

💎 Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Naica Mine, Naica, Saucillo Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico
📏 Dimensions: Height: 7 cm – Width: 5 cm – Depth: 7 cm – Main crystal: 4.5 cm
👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab

🔎 Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it

📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani

#minerals #crystals #selenite #gypsum #naica #mexico #mineralcollection #geology #fineminerals #mcpminerals ... Vedi altroVedi meno

MCP srl

5 days ago

The Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Mineral Show is approaching, and we are looking forward to meeting collectors, friends and mineral enthusiasts from all over the world once again.

From June 24th to 28th, 2026, MCP – Mineralogical Collection Professionals will be attending the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Mineral Show, one of the most important international events dedicated to minerals, crystals and natural history.

For this new edition, we will present a carefully selected collection of fine mineral specimens, including recent acquisitions, classic localities, museum-quality pieces and some of the latest results from the MCP Lab.

More than a mineral show, Sainte-Marie is a place where knowledge, research and passion come together. Every year it offers a unique opportunity to meet collectors, museums, dealers and professionals from across the world, sharing discoveries, stories and new perspectives on mineralogy.

Throughout the show, our team will be available to discuss specimen selection, restoration projects, collection management and laboratory services. Whether you are searching for a remarkable addition to your collection or looking for professional advice, we will be delighted to meet you.

👉 We look forward to welcoming you in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Contact us in DM to arrange a meeting during the show.

💎 MCP Lab – Professional services for collectors and museums
📍 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
@mineralgemshow
🗓 June 24–28, 2026

👉 Find us at:
"Theater" Stand – ZM TGS 8
"Swimming Pool" Stand – ZM P1 18

📸 Graph @federico_picciani

#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #mineralshow #saintemarieauxmines #smam2026 #mcplab #mineralogy #fineminerals #collector ... Vedi altroVedi meno

MCP srl

3 weeks ago

Hauerite [MnS₂] – Between scientific specimen and museum piece

For a long time, Hauerite remained a species appreciated more within scientific contexts than among collectors of aesthetic minerals. The reason is simple: crystals are often incomplete, isolated, or detached from their original matrix, making it difficult to find specimens capable of combining crystallographic quality, integrity, and visual strength.

This set stands out precisely because it succeeds in bringing all these elements together. The matrix specimen preserves a direct relationship with its formation environment, while the isolated crystals provide a clear reading of the species’ characteristic morphologies. The exceptional size of the main crystal and the rarity of the original matrix contribute to transforming this group into something that goes far beyond simple mineralogical representativeness.

It is the kind of material capable of speaking simultaneously to advanced collectors, the history of Sicilian mining, and the museum dimension of classical European mineralogy.

👉 This specimen is currently reserved. Contact us to discover other museum-level mineral specimens available through MCP.

💎 Hauerite set – Selected by Federico Pezzotta and Alessandro Paladini
📍 Destricella Mine, Raddusa, Catania, Sicily, Italy
📏 5,2 × 4,5 × 3,5 cm – Main crystal 3,2 cm
⚖️ 77 g
👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab – Preservation-focused preparation of a rare historical matrix specimen

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#hauerite #museumspecimen #sicilyminerals #rareminerals #mineralcollection #fineminerals #mcpitaly ... Vedi altroVedi meno

MCP srl

4 weeks ago

Hauerite [MnS₂] – A rare member of the Pyrite Group

Hauerite belongs to the Pyrite Group, a family of minerals sharing the same cubic crystal structure while differing in chemical composition. In the case of Hauerite, manganese replaces iron, giving rise to the rare manganese sulfide MnS₂.

From a crystallographic perspective, the species is known for developing octahedral, cubic, and cubo-octahedral crystals that are often remarkably sharp. However, the aesthetic quality of most specimens is compromised by the fragility of both the species itself and, above all, of the delicate matrix hosting it.
This is precisely why well-preserved historical Sicilian specimens occupy such a special position within advanced mineral collections. In this set, the combination of isolated crystals and matrix specimen allows the simultaneous observation of the different morphological expressions of Hauerite.

👉 This specimen is currently reserved. Contact us to discover other museum-level mineral specimens available through MCP.

💎 Hauerite set – Selected by Federico Pezzotta and Alessandro Paladini
📍 Destricella Mine, Raddusa, Catania, Sicily, Italy
📏 5,2 × 4,5 × 3,5 cm – Main crystal 3,2 cm
⚖️ 77 g
👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab – Preservation-focused preparation of a rare historical matrix specimen

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#hauerite #pyritegroup #crystallography #sulfideminerals #mineralcollector #fineminerals #mcpitaly ... Vedi altroVedi meno