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Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – The elegance of simplicityIn mineral collecting, achieving perfection through simp...
19/06/2026

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – The elegance of simplicity

In mineral collecting, achieving perfection through simplicity is probably one of the most difficult things of all.
This Naica selenite does not need colour, fluorescence or complex structures to attract attention.
It relies entirely on the purity of form.

A transparent, thin and luminous crystal blade rises from the dark matrix with an almost sculptural precision. Every surface reflects light delicately, creating a rare balance between visual lightness and aesthetic presence.

It is exactly this compositional purity that makes the specimen so refined.
A piece that perfectly represents the idea of “less is more” applied to mineralogy.

👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by and
📍 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: / .it

📸 Photo and Video

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Naica and the perfection of transparencyThe Naica Mine is known worldwide for prod...
17/06/2026

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Naica and the perfection of transparency

The Naica Mine is known worldwide for producing some of the most spectacular crystals ever discovered in nature. A locality that became legendary thanks to the gigantic selenite crystals that transformed this Mexican mine into one of the most iconic places in mineralogy.

Even in smaller cabinet specimens, Naica preserves the very same aesthetic identity: extreme transparency, clean crystal growth and an almost perfect relationship between light and matter.

In this specimen, the selenite emerges from the matrix with an elegant and rigorous presence. The main crystal dominates the composition without excess, allowing purity and brilliance alone to create the visual impact.
A silent, essential and instantly recognisable beauty.

👉 Specimen available! Contact us in DM for more information!
💎 Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] - Specimen from MCP Collection - Selected by and
📍 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: / .it

📸 Photo and Video

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Geometry suspended in lightSome minerals fascinate through complexity of form.Othe...
15/06/2026

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 and
📍 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: / .it

📸 Photo and Video

Gypsum (var. Selenite) [CaSO₄·2H₂O] – Pure transparencyVery often, in mineral collecting, it is intense colour that imme...
12/06/2026

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 and
📍 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: / .it

📸 Photo and Video

The Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Mineral Show is approaching, and we are looking forward to meeting collectors, friends and m...
11/06/2026

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

🗓 June 24–28, 2026

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

📸 Graph

Hauerite [MnS₂] – Between scientific specimen and museum pieceFor a long time, Hauerite remained a species appreciated m...
28/05/2026

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

Hauerite [MnS₂] – A rare member of the Pyrite GroupHauerite belongs to the Pyrite Group, a family of minerals sharing th...
20/05/2026

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

Hauerite [MnS₂] – The fragile memory of sulfur depositsThe Destricella Mine represents one of the world’s classic locali...
18/05/2026

Hauerite [MnS₂] – The fragile memory of sulfur deposits

The Destricella Mine represents one of the world’s classic localities for Hauerite. The crystals formed within sulfur-rich clay layers, in a highly unusual geological environment capable of producing exceptionally sharp isometric crystals.

Paradoxically, the very conditions that allowed such defined crystal growth are also responsible for the rarity of complete specimens. The argillite hosting the crystals is unstable, delicate, and highly prone to disintegration. For this reason, most historical Sicilian specimens entered collections detached from their original matrix.

In this specimen, the matrix is not merely an aesthetic support, but a true geological testimony. It preserves the relationship between the crystal and its formation environment, allowing a far more complete reading of the genetic process that led to the formation 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

Hauerite [MnS₂] – A complete reading of the speciesThis post presents three specimens of the same mineral: one matrix sp...
16/05/2026

Hauerite [MnS₂] – A complete reading of the species

This post presents three specimens of the same mineral: one matrix specimen and two isolated crystals. The decision to present them together comes from the desire to offer a complete reading of Sicilian Hauerite, simultaneously showing the relationship between the mineral and its formation environment alongside the different crystallographic expressions of the species.

Hauerite is in fact most commonly found as isolated crystals, detached from their original matrix and frequently incomplete. The extreme fragility of the argillite hosting them makes the preservation of the geological context particularly difficult.
Alongside the main specimen, the two isolated crystals allow a much clearer observation of the pure geometric forms characteristic of the species.

The dialogue between these elements creates a set that does not simply display three specimens, but reveals the different visual and scientific identities 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

Hauerite [MnS₂] – Geometries preserved through timeThere are minerals that immediately capture attention through color o...
15/05/2026

Hauerite [MnS₂] – Geometries preserved through time

There are minerals that immediately capture attention through color or brilliance. Hauerite belongs to a different category: minerals that reveal their strength through geometry, rarity, and the exceptional preservation of their geological context.

The centerpiece of this group is the matrix specimen from the historic Destricella Mine in Raddusa, one of the world’s most iconic localities for the species. The most extraordinary aspect of the piece is not only the remarkable size of the main crystal, but the exceptional preservation of its original matrix.

The argillite hosting these crystals is extremely friable and fragile; for this reason, historical specimens almost always lost their matrix either during extraction or over time. In this example, however, the relationship between the crystal and its geological environment remains surprisingly intact and readable.

👉 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

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