![Sulphur [S] โ Genesis of light in the depths of Sicily
The Cozzodisi mine has always been a symbol of excellence in Italian and world mining history.
In the heart of Agrigento, unique geological processes have generated sulphur crystals of extraordinary purity, often in close association with black bitumen. This extremely rare combination gives the crystals greenish reflections and an unmistakable brilliance. The geometric harmony of the crystals and their perfect integration with the matrix tell the story of millions of years of underground evolution: a perfect synthesis of Sicilian mineralogy.
๐ Discover it in person at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines โ 60th Anniversary Edition. Book your exclusive appointment with our expert Alessandro Paladini, send us a DM!
๐ Sulphur [S] โ Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab โ Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
๐ Dimensions: 17ร12ร7 cm โ Main crystal: 3.4ร2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy](https://www.mcp-italy.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Sulphur [S] โ Genesis of light in the depths of Sicily
The Cozzodisi mine has always been a symbol of excellence in Italian and world mining history.
In the heart of Agrigento, unique geological processes have generated sulphur crystals of extraordinary purity, often in close association with black bitumen. This extremely rare combination gives the crystals greenish reflections and an unmistakable brilliance. The geometric harmony of the crystals and their perfect integration with the matrix tell the story of millions of years of underground evolution: a perfect synthesis of Sicilian mineralogy.
๐ Discover it in person at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines โ 60th Anniversary Edition. Book your exclusive appointment with our expert Alessandro Paladini, send us a DM!
๐ Sulphur [S] โ Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab โ Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
๐ Dimensions: 17ร12ร7 cm โ Main crystal: 3.4ร2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
Sulphur [S] โ Four suns in the Sicilian night
From the deep shadows of the bituminous matrix, four vivid and hypnotic yellow sulphur crystals emerge like stars in the darkness.
The elegance of their arrangement, poised on a glossy black base, offers collectors a vision of rare perfection: the extreme transparency allows you to glimpse the rock beneath each crystal, while every perfectly developed face reflects light with razor-sharp clarity. The delicate green shades running through the crystals are the signature of the secret meeting between sulphur and bitumen, in a perfect balance between crystal and matrix.
This specimen, refined in the MCP laboratories, expresses the original brilliance of Sicilian sulphur.
๐ Discover it in person at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines โ 60th Anniversary Edition. Book your exclusive appointment with our expert Alessandro Paladini, send us a DM!
๐ Sulphur [S] โ Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab โ Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
๐ Dimensions: 17ร12ร7 cm โ Main crystal: 3.4ร2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
๐ MCP at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines โ 60th Anniversary Edition
Join us at the most important event for professional mineral dealers and collectors, returning for its 60th anniversary: we will be in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines from June 25th to 29th, 2025, for an edition that celebrates six decades at the heart of European mineralogy.
This milestone show brings together leading collectors, experts, and enthusiasts from across the continent, transforming the town into a vibrant crossroads of geology, culture, and innovation.
For this special occasion, MCP presents an exclusive selection of exceptional specimensโnew acquisitions, historic minerals, and the latest highlights from our laboratoryโcurated for the discerning collector and connoisseur.
Meet our team for direct insights into the world of restoration, research, and fine mineral selection. Whether you are looking for a rare masterpiece or seeking expert advice for your collection, our specialists are at your disposal.
๐ Donโt miss the opportunity to experience the 60th anniversary of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines! We look forward to meeting you in Alsaceโcontact us in DM for more information or to book your appointment.
๐ MCP Lab โ Professional services for collectors and museums
๐ Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
๐ June 25โ29, 2025
๐ Stand location: โTheatreโ - ZM-TGS-8 and โPiscineโ Stand PI nยฐ18
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #mineralgemshow2025 #mcplab #mineralshow #france
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ The quiet redemption of a classic
When thinking of the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, the mineral imagination turns instantly to the famed aquamarines. Yet this 1990s red garnet proves how even a so-called โsecondary protagonistโ can shine in the collectorโs spotlight.
Perfect in volume, vivid in color, geometrically flawless, and beautifully balanced by its matrix, this is a piece that stands tall even among more celebrated crystals. For those seeking elegance, rarity, and maturity in a collection.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ A mineral flame dancing on snow
There is something ancestral about this garnet: a shape emerging confidently from the matrix, like a living spark in the stillness of albite. Its intense red glows with light, turning the mineral into presence.
Each edge reflects the landscape where it was bornโhigh mountains, deep silences, centuries of pressure distilled into a geometric gesture of beauty.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ Cubic symmetry and accessory inclusions
Red garnet belongs to the cubic crystal system and often exhibits well-developed dodecahedral or trapezohedral habits. In this specimen, the crystal faces are sharp, lustrous, and uninterruptedโa textbook and display-worthy example.
Its association with albite and mica confirms a pegmatitic formation environment, where thermodynamic conditions favored orderly growth. No fractures, no interventionsโjust geometry and light, crystallized together.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #red
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ The timeless charm of a collectible gem
Garnet has been known since antiquity: used as an ornamental stone by the Greeks and Romans, its name comes from the Latin granatus, due to its resemblance to pomegranate seeds. A gem that has traversed centuries of mythology, craftsmanship, and science.
More recently, finds from the valleys of Pakistan have yielded garnets of exceptional collectible quality, such as this 1990s specimen: perfect in shape, vivid in color, rich in both aesthetic balance and geological rarity.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ High-altitude silicates and crystal contrast
Garnet is a nesosilicate that crystallizes in the cubic system, composed of isolated silicon tetrahedra linked by metal cations. In the high-altitude pegmatites of Gilgit-Baltistan, slow, fluid-rich conditions enabled the formation of perfectly developed crystals, well exposed on matrix.
The red variety of this specimen stands out for its luster and saturationโsigns of uninterrupted growth in well-protected cavities enriched with accessory albite and mica. A product of deep geology, shaped with precision by time.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] โ Geometric elegance from the heart of Pakistan
This red garnet specimen is a perfect balance of color, form, and contrast. The luminous, flawless red crystals stand out sharply against a snowy white albite matrix, creating a visual effect of exceptional clarity and elegance.
Adding to the composition are shimmering mica lamellae, reminiscent of tiny starsโa natural geometry that lends lightness and symmetry to the overall structure. A specimen designed for discerning collectors, where every detail finds its place.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Red Garnet [MnยณAlโ(SiOโ)โ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 8 cm โ Width: 8 cm โ Depth: 4 cm โ Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Quartz [SiOโ] โ Silent traces of Alpine life
Each subtle mark on the surface of this quartz silently tells of the Alpine marmotsโ passageโa discreet and poetic testimony to life delicately interwoven with the mineral. These fine traces become unique details, a secret dialogue between crystal and nature, etched in time. It is a crystallized fragment of time that holds beauty and mystery, nature and poetry.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Quartz [SiOโ] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerland
๐ Dimensions: Height: 11 cm โ Width: 14 cm โ Depth: 12 cm โ Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Quartz [SiOโ] โ Prismatic morphologies from the โMarmotta Cleftโ
โจA distinctive feature of these quartz specimens is their elongated, sharply defined prismatic form, often beautifully isolated on the matrix. This main crystal, measuring a full 8 cm in length, exemplifies the quality and crystallographic perfection of this iconic locality.
The surface abrasion marks on the crystal faces are unique featuresโsilent evidence of the marmotsโ presence, turning each piece into something unmistakable and treasured.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Quartz [SiOโ] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahlerโจ๐ Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerlandโจ๐ Dimensions: Height: 11 cm โ Width: 14 cm โ Depth: 12 cm โ Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
โจ๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Labโจ๐ Source: @mindatorgโจ๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
โจ#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Quartz [SiOโ] โ When nature meets Alpine legend
The discovery of the famed Marmotta Cleft in the 1980s is wrapped in a captivating story: it was Alpine marmots who inadvertently revealed this quartz treasure to prospectors. The surface markings on the crystals tell of their daily passage, creating a fascinating connection between mineralogy and wildlife.
The largest specimens from this extraordinary find are now kept in museums, making pieces like this highly sought after by private collectors.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Quartz [SiOโ] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerland
๐ Dimensions: Height: 11 cm โ Width: 14 cm โ Depth: 12 cm โ Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Quartz [SiOโ] โ A prism of pure silica born from Alpine geology
In the heart of the Aar massif, Alpine fractures gave rise to unique mineralized cavities, such as the famed Marmotta Cleft. Here, quartz crystallized under ideal conditions, producing elongated, lustrous prisms, often well isolated on their matrix.
The smoky color of the crystals is the result of natural exposure to radiation, which gently altered their original clarity into warmer and deeper tones. This slow and selective process reflects the geochemical richness and stability of the formation environment.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Quartz [SiOโ] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerland
๐ Dimensions: Height: 11 cm โ Width: 14 cm โ Depth: 12 cm โ Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Quartz [SiOโ] โ Wild elegance from the heart of the Alps
This smoky quartz specimen, from the legendary โMarmotta Cleftโ on the Grimsel, stands out for its crystal quality and the impeccable arrangement of the crystals on the matrix. The contrast between the lustrous prism faces and the rough, light-toned base creates a refined visual harmony.
The warm, slightly smoky transparency adds depth and warmth to the composition, while the elongated morphology of the main crystal lends dynamism and elegance to the whole piece. Two professional restorations carried out in our laboratories complete the piece while preserving its natural character.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Quartz [SiOโ] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerland
๐ Dimensions: Height: 11 cm โ Width: 14 cm โ Depth: 12 cm โ Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] โ A fragment of sky made solid
There is a light that belongs only to aquamarine: a luminous, liquid clarity that seems to capture the breath of high altitudes. In this crystal, blue condenses into form, as if the sky had gently rested on a cloud of stone.
The gas inclusions in the lower part of the crystal resemble tiny constellations suspended in millennia of silence. It is a fragment of suspended beauty, born from the folds of the earth and the heights of the mountains.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 10 cm โ Width: 6 cm โ Depth: 4 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #aquamarine #pakistan
Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] โ Name, myth, and science
The name โaquamarineโ comes from the Latin aqua marina, meaning โseawater,โ for its color reminiscent of shimmering waves. A poetic designation already in use during the Renaissance, when the mineral symbolized clarity and knowledge.
Today, aquamarine is among the most coveted minerals: a must-have in any high-level mineralogical collection. This specimen, discovered approximately twenty years ago in the high peaks of Pakistan, retains the charm of a tradition that unites aesthetics, geology, and culture.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 10 cm โ Width: 6 cm โ Depth: 4 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #aquamarine #pakistan
Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ]
Aquamarine is a blue variety of beryl, hexagonal system, often characterized by long crystals with regular hexagonal cross-sections and flat or pyramidal terminations. This specimen displays an elongated prismatic habit and extremely high transparency.
The lower section features tiny gas inclusions arranged in an orderly pattern, forming star-like networks suspended within. A distinctive feature that makes the crystal even more intriguing for collectors who appreciate internal detail.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahlerโจ๐ Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistanโจ๐ Dimensions: Height: 10 cm โ Width: 6 cm โ Depth: 4 cmโจ๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Labโจ๐ Source: @mindatorgโจ๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
โจ#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #aquamarine #pakistan
Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] โ A crystal of suspended blue
Elegant, slender, perfectly transparent: this aquamarine from the Shigar Valley embodies the aesthetic ideal of the collector. Its intense blue color, remarkably concentrated in the upper portion of the crystal, is one of its most fascinating qualities.
The contrast between the crystal-clear blue and the white matrix enhances the sense of lightness and purity. Each facet reflects the light sharply, enhancing the brilliance of its prismatic form. No repairs or restorations: an intact and harmonious specimen.
๐ Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
๐ Aquamarine [BeโAlโSiโOโโ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
๐ Dimensions: Height: 10 cm โ Width: 6 cm โ Depth: 4 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #aquamarine #pakistan
Cerussite [PbCOโ] โ A star resting on the rock
Like an ice crystal suspended in time, this cerussite holds the fragile beauty of perfect form within a few centimeters. Its very name comes from the Latin cerussa, referring to the white lead pigment used in antiquityโa bridge between science and art, between minerals and decoration. Its arms open delicately, touched by a soft brown sheen and an inner glow that seems to rise from the rock itself.
Light, elegant, and unrepeatable: a fragment of symmetry shaped by nature with extreme grace. For the attentive observer, it is much more than a mineralโit is a small gesture of balance, and a fragment of matterโs history transformed into beauty.
๐ This specimen is not available, but if you want to enrich your collection, contact us via DM for more specimens and crystals!
๐ Cerussite [PbCOโ] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
๐ Tsumeb West Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
๐ Dimensions: Height: 4 cm โ Width: 3.5 cm โ Depth: 3 cm
๐จ๐ผโ๐ฌ MCP Lab
๐ Source: @mindatorg
๐ธ Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #cerussite #namibia