FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Peter Seroka]

Hi Bob

If you let me have your.address by PM, I'll send you a few more of those aragonite crystals with "drill bit terminations" (with visible grooves) from Molina de Aragon. As I am collecting at this classic site almost once per year, there are always a few extra specimens, which I give away to friends and institutions..

The locality, amongst the local people known as Cerro Pelado (bald mountain) at the Rio de Gallo (chicken creek), is about 2 km close to the beautiful city of Molina de Aragon, just next to a poultry-pig farm.

Having been known since more than 200 years, since its first description by the Spaniard Joseph Tuorrubia in 1754 (Aparato para la Historia Natural Espania), the Rio de Gallo-locality near Molina de Aragon has been productive in delivering uncountable specimens of fine, sometimes incredibly lustrous aragonite crystals. Most, however, are the well known "Trillings" from 3-7 cm.
Crystals with "drill bit" terminations are quite scarce; among 100+ "ordinary" twins there is one with "drill bit".
Overall, the locality is still rich and productive, especially after summer, when the grass had been cut by the farmers.

I have a collection of approx. 120 aragonites from the 65 most important occurrences in Spain. If you are looking for other crystals or oddities, please let me know.
Best regards,
Peter Seroka

[Bob Morgan]

Peter, what a nice offer! Yes, I'd like one to go with a couple of penetrant ones I've obtained over the years from there.
I'll be seeking an answer as to why the two different habits, and what makes one favored over the other.
Are these rarer ones all 'drillbit' or do some have flattened c faces?
What a beautiful locality only to have a pig operation next door.
My address is:
2711 Mechanics Avenue
Savannah, Georgia 31404 USA

If you ever come this way, We'd love to have you visit.

Bob Morgan