Smithsonite

Unknown Owner

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When it comes to individual crystal size, there are few places in the world that can rival Tsumeb mine for its Smithsonite, and bizarrely most are in Africa too. This miniature specimen from Tsumeb is a pure crystal aggregate, or cluster of extremely large rhombic Smithsonite crystals. These display a rich toffee-colour and classic waxy, to resinous lustre, but also present the added detail of gently rippled crystal faces, brought about by many overlapping platy, or lenticular crystals. The continuation of these surfaces have also produced some slightly rounded crystal edges and corners, but not all. Individually, the Smithsonite crystals reach an impressive 2.5 cm end-to-end and although some of them are not complete around the back of the sample, their front faces are in superb condition. Ex Kessler Collection