Smithsonite - image 1

Smithsonite

Unknown Owner
An interesting historical specimen of smithsonite from the iconic Tsumeb Mine* in Namibia. This specimen came to us via the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, attributed to William S. Vaux (1811-1882), who passed away BEFORE the major discoveries and operations at Tsumeb – so this is a bit of a mystery – however, we do believe this locality to be correct for the specimen. Perhaps it was found pre-major operations in the area? Or was misattributed to Vaux by the academy – either way, a nice 360 degree old smithsonite from this world-famous mine.

Product details

Species
SmithsoniteAbout Smithsonite →
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions2.8 x 6.0 x 4.2 cm
Added on04/21/2026
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
06/2026Unknown Owner$300.00
—Collector’s EdgeNot disclosed

Learn more

Smithsonite
Mineral guide
Learn about Smithsonite
ZnCO3 with botryoidal and crystalline forms, silky to vitreous luster, pastel hues from cobalt to yellow; localities boost collecting appeal.
Smithsonite
Regional guide
Smithsonite from Tsumeb, Namibia
is one of the defining collector minerals of Tsumeb: not merely because it is common there, but because Tsumeb turns a usually massive or botryoidal zinc carbonate into a locality signature mineral with uncommon crystal variety, depth of color, and association. Tsumeb smithsonite spans the familiar apple-greens and blue-greens of copper-bearing material, soft pink to violet-pink cobaltoan and manganoan-looking rhombs, yellow-brown and chocolate-brown iron-rich crystals, pale grey to white crusts, colorless to translucent rhombs, and rare red-pink material from the deeper oxidized workings. The best specimens combine sharp rhombohedral or scalenohedral crystals with the sculptural mineralogical theater for which Tsumeb is famous: galena-rich sulfide matrix, sugary dolomite, black tennantite and pyrite ore, cerussite, mimetite, malachite, wulfenite, duftite, dioptase, and willemite.