![Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] – The treasure of the Alpine strahler
Smoky quartz has been part of the Alpine imagination for centuries, featured in tales and legends gathered by the Swiss “strahler”—crystal seekers who explore the mountain’s most remote folds.
This specimen, recovered with skill and care, represents one of those rare discoveries that combine geological rigor with the poetry of exploration. A fragment of Alpine history brought to light and preserved today for contemplation and collection.
👉 This specimen has been sold and is now part of a private collection. To explore available specimens, visit our website or send us a DM!
💎 Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] - Specimen prepared in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Göscheneralp, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland
📏 Dimensions: Height: 12 cm – Width: 20 cm – Depth: 13 cm – Main crystal: 7 x 3 x 2.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland](https://www.mcp-italy.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] – The treasure of the Alpine strahler
Smoky quartz has been part of the Alpine imagination for centuries, featured in tales and legends gathered by the Swiss “strahler”—crystal seekers who explore the mountain’s most remote folds.
This specimen, recovered with skill and care, represents one of those rare discoveries that combine geological rigor with the poetry of exploration. A fragment of Alpine history brought to light and preserved today for contemplation and collection.
👉 This specimen has been sold and is now part of a private collection. To explore available specimens, visit our website or send us a DM!
💎 Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] - Specimen prepared in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Göscheneralp, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland
📏 Dimensions: Height: 12 cm – Width: 20 cm – Depth: 13 cm – Main crystal: 7 x 3 x 2.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] – Deep fractures and crystalline vapors
In the alpine region of Göscheneralp, smoky quartz crystals form inside hydrothermal cavities generated by deep fractures and a slow cooling process enriched by mineral-rich fluids.
The brown tone is the result of natural exposure to radiation, which transforms the quartz into a vibrant, opalescent gem.
Each crystal is a witness to ancient pressures and millennia-long geological processes, visibly expressed in perfect symmetry.
👉 This specimen has been sold and is now part of a private collection. To explore available specimens, visit our website or send us a DM!
💎 Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] - Specimen prepared in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Göscheneralp, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland
📏 Dimensions: Height: 12 cm – Width: 20 cm – Depth: 13 cm – Main crystal: 7 x 3 x 2.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] – An explosion of elegance from Göscheneralp
There’s an alpine light that seems to reflect from every angle of this specimen: warm transparencies, brown shades, and impeccable geometry. The crystals grow in a natural radial pattern, as if the mountain had revealed a secret design carved into time.
The deep, saturated smoky color stands out against the compact, pale matrix, enhancing the structure and compositional clarity. A geological sculpture that merges strength with beauty, created for collectors who seek balance and distinction.
👉 This specimen has been sold and is now part of a private collection. To explore available specimens, visit our website or send us a DM!
💎 Smoky Quartz [SiO₂] - Specimen prepared in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Göscheneralp, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland
📏 Dimensions: Height: 12 cm – Width: 20 cm – Depth: 13 cm – Main crystal: 7 x 3 x 2.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland
MCP at @mineralgemshow | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2025
What an incredible week it’s been here in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines!
On this final day of the Mineral & Gem Show, we want to thank everyone who stopped by, shared stories, and exchanged their passion with us.
There’s still time to visit us before the doors close—come by our stand for a last chance to connect, discover the world of MCP, and meet our team in person. Whether you’re curious about our work, interested in our restoration services, or just want to say hello, we’re here for you.
Let’s end this anniversary edition together—see you at our booth!
👉 Stand location: “Theatre” - ZM-TGS-8 and “Piscine” Stand PI n°18
💎 MCP Lab – Professional services for collectors and museums
📍 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
🗓 June 25–29, 2025
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab, selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sainte-marie-aux-mines #mcplab #mineralshow #france
MCP at @mineralgemshow | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2025
Come and join us at the heart of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines during the 60th anniversary of the Mineral & Gem Show!
Our stand is open to all collectors, enthusiasts, and friends who want to discover the MCP world up close.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, curious about new specimens, or interested in our restoration and research services, our team is here to welcome you.
Take the chance to connect, exchange stories, and share your passion for minerals with us. Book a private appointment with Alessandro Paladini for a personal conversation, or stop by anytime for a chat—we’re here until June 29th.
👉 Stand location: “Theatre” - ZM-TGS-8 and “Piscine” Stand PI n°18
💎 MCP Lab – Professional services for collectors and museums
📍 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
🗓 June 25–29, 2025
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab, selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sainte-marie-aux-mines #mcplab #mineralshow #france
MCP at @mineralgemshow | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2025
We’re here at the heart of the Mineral & Gem Show for its 60th anniversary—and we’d love to meet you!
Come visit us at our stand to discover the world of MCP: from rare specimens to restoration and scientific research, our team is ready to welcome collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals alike.
Whether you are seeking advice, want to see our latest highlights, or simply wish to connect, you’ll find us throughout the event.
Book a private appointment with Alessandro Paladini for a one-to-one conversation or just drop by for a chat. We’re looking forward to sharing our passion for minerals and collections with you in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.
👉 Stand location: “Theatre” - ZM-TGS-8 and “Piscine” Stand PI n°18
💎 MCP Lab – Professional services for collectors and museums
📍 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
🗓 June 25–29, 2025
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab, selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sainte-marie-aux-mines #mcplab #mineralshow #france
MCP at @mineralgemshow | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2025
The first days here in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines have been fantastic! We’ll be at the show until June 29th—come and experience this exceptional Gold specimen from Brusson and book a private appointment with Alessandro Paladini.
Be part of the most important event for professional mineral dealers and collectors, celebrating its 60th anniversary in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines from June 25th to 29th, 2025. For six decades, this show has been at the heart of European mineralogy, bringing together leading collectors, experts, and enthusiasts from across the continent and beyond.
On this special occasion, MCP showcases a refined selection of outstanding specimens—including new acquisitions, historic minerals, and the latest highlights from our laboratory—curated for discerning collectors and connoisseurs.
Meet our team for exclusive insights into restoration, research, and fine mineral selection. Whether you are searching for a rare masterpiece or expert guidance for your collection, our specialists are at your service.
👉 Stand location: “Theatre” - ZM-TGS-8 and “Piscine” Stand PI n°18
💎 Gold – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab
📍 Brusson, Aosta Valley, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 10×5×4 cm – Main crystal group: 3.5×4 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab, selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #gold #sainte-marie-aux-mines #mcplab #mineralshow #italy #aostavalley
Sulphur [S] – A collector’s masterpiece
There are specimens that define a standard—and this sulphur from Cozzodisi is one of them: a mineral born to amaze both connoisseurs and first-time visitors.
Its perfect architecture, the bold yellow crystals in stark contrast with the dark, bituminous matrix, and the extraordinary clarity that reveals every secret of its formation: all these qualities make this piece a reference for collectors worldwide. Cleaned and trimmed in the MCP Lab to highlight its natural elegance, this specimen is more than just a mineral—it’s an invitation to appreciate excellence.
👉 Experience the wonder for yourself: book a private viewing with Alessandro Paladini during the Mineral & Gem Show in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.
💎 Sulphur [S] – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 17×12×7 cm – Main crystal: 3.4×2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
Sulphur [S] – The transparency of ancient sunlight
Holding this sulphur in your hands is like holding a fragment of ancient light, a drop of sun imprisoned in the night of the earth.
The crystals interact with the dark matrix in a transparency so pure that it lets dreams of fire and time filter through. This is not just a mineral, but a luminous memory of deep Sicily: here, nature shapes absolute beauty and humankind is enchanted by the very essence of light.
👉 Let yourself be surprised by the poetry of sulphur: at the Mineral & Gem Show in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, a unique experience awaits you with our expert.
💎 Sulphur [S] – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 17×12×7 cm – Main crystal: 3.4×2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
Sulphur [S] – The gold of Sicily and its journey around the world
From the Cozzodisi mine came crystals that today enrich the collections of the world’s greatest museums.
Since the 19th century, Sicilian sulphur has played a starring role in an industrial and scientific epic, shaping the identity of an entire territory and contributing to the development of modern chemistry. This specimen, from one of the most prestigious localities on the planet, continues to represent Italian excellence in mineralogy, uniting history, beauty, and culture.
👉 Discover the story and legend of Sicilian sulphur at the Mineral & Gem Show in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines: book an exclusive meeting with Alessandro Paladini.
💎 Sulphur [S] – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 17×12×7 cm – Main crystal: 3.4×2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
Sulphur [S] – 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.
👉 Discover it in person at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines – 60th Anniversary Edition. Book your exclusive appointment with our expert Alessandro Paladini, send us a DM!
💎 Sulphur [S] – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 17×12×7 cm – Main crystal: 3.4×2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
Sulphur [S] – 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.
👉 Discover it in person at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines – 60th Anniversary Edition. Book your exclusive appointment with our expert Alessandro Paladini, send us a DM!
💎 Sulphur [S] – Specimen trimmed and selected in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Cozzodisi Mine, Casteltermini, Agrigento province, Sicily, Italy
📏 Dimensions: 17×12×7 cm – Main crystal: 3.4×2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #sulphur #zolfo #italy
👉 MCP at @mineralgemshow 2025 | Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines – 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 specimens—new acquisitions, historic minerals, and the latest highlights from our laboratory—curated 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.
👉 Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the 60th anniversary of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines! We look forward to meeting you in Alsace—contact us in DM for more information or to book your appointment.
💎 MCP Lab – Professional services for collectors and museums
📍 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France @mineralgemshow
🗓 June 25–29, 2025
👉 Stand location: “Theatre” - ZM-TGS-8 and “Piscine” Stand PI n°18
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #mineralgemshow2025 #mcplab #mineralshow #france
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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 “secondary protagonist” can shine in the collector’s 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.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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 born—high mountains, deep silences, centuries of pressure distilled into a geometric gesture of beauty.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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 uninterrupted—a 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 interventions—just geometry and light, crystallized together.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #red
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg / @treccani.it
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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 saturation—signs of uninterrupted growth in well-protected cavities enriched with accessory albite and mica. A product of deep geology, shaped with precision by time.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] – 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 stars—a natural geometry that lends lightness and symmetry to the overall structure. A specimen designed for discerning collectors, where every detail finds its place.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Red Garnet [Mn³Al₂(SiO₄)₃] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
📏 Dimensions: Height: 8 cm – Width: 8 cm – Depth: 4 cm – Main crystal: 2 x 1.5 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #garnet #pakistan
Quartz [SiO₂] – Silent traces of Alpine life
Each subtle mark on the surface of this quartz silently tells of the Alpine marmots’ passage—a 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.
👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Quartz [SiO₂] - Specimen restored in MCP Lab - Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📍 Marmotta Cleft, Grimsel, Bern, Switzerland
📏 Dimensions: Height: 11 cm – Width: 14 cm – Depth: 12 cm – Main crystal: 8 x 3 x 2 cm
👨🏼🔬 MCP Lab
🔎 Source: @mindatorg
📸 Photo and Video @federico_picciani
#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #quartz #switzerland