My enthusiasm for stones began in 1971 when a friend of mine who was a Mining Engineer gave me a present of a Scheelite sample. I fell in love with its beauty straight away and decided to start collecting minerals.
I am inspired purely by aesthetic criteria and especially by the sensation I feel when in possession of a "unique model that will not be able to be repeated" and that has been created by Mother Nature.
Over the years, a lot of people have asked me why a chemist collects minerals, a thing that has nothing to do with my job. The answer is very easy. The observation, the pursuit and the exchanging of pieces have brought me countless moments of both pleasure and relaxation. There are also pleasant discussions with other collectors even if each of us has a specimen that is much bigger and more beautiful than the others.
I live in an area that is exceptional for its fluorite, my favourite mineral on which I base my collection round. I am currently writing a book on Astruries' fluorite deposits and I hope it will be released soon.
I enjoy a real passion in making exchanges with other collectors, but always with a criteria for quality when it concerns fluorite. During the summer, in the months of July and August, I go to the beach of "Vega" where I make my exchanges. It's been quite a few years that countless collectors and traders have been going here, attracted by the fluorite of the Ana mine in Berbes.
I hope that the crisis that is affecting the mining sector in the west and that will shut down many mines will not prevent other people like me from being able to get close to the beautiful world of crystals.
You can contact me by e-mail : info@asturmineral.com and my collection will soon be able to be appreciated on a web page that we are currently building.
