Smithsonite
Unknown Owner
Attractive bluish green chatoyant botryoidal crystallized smithsonite across the front of matrix. Overall this is in good condition. A choice miniature for this classic American specimen.The Kelly Mine, located in the Magdalena District of Socorro County, New Mexico, is a world-renowned mineral locality situated within the northern end of the Magdalena Mountains. Geologically, the deposit is a hydrothermal replacement system where metal-bearing fluids reacted with the Mississippian Kelly Limestone, creating massive ore bodies along faults and contact zones. The mine is most famous for its stunning "Kelly blue" smithsonite, a zinc carbonate mineral that occurs as thick, translucent, botryoidal crusts with a distinctive sky-blue to blue-green hue caused by copper impurities. Historically, mining and quarrying in the area began in the late 1860s following the discovery of lead ores by J.S. Hutchason, with the town of Kelly quickly becoming a major industrial hub. The Kelly Mine itself saw its most significant period of zinc production between 1904 and 1928, primarily under the management of the Empire Zinc Company, which utilized the iconic Passaic headframe that still stands today. Commercial underground mining for industrial ore largely ceased by the mid-20th century.
Product details
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.0 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm
Added on05/23/2026
Locality
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 05/2026 | Unknown Owner | $450.00 |
| — | Weinrich Minerals | Not disclosed |
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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.
Regional guide
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