The Kelly mine in Socorro County, New Mexico, USA, is often described as the world's best Smithsonite locality and this first-class, museum-grade small cabinet specimen, aptly demonstrates why. A 7 mm thick crust of lustrous and drusy, translucent rich duck egg blue-green-turquoise Smithsonite forms gently undulating globular mounds over a layer of pale turquoise blue silky Aurichalcite on altered limestone matrix. The Smithsonite continues around one edge to underneath the specimen where it changes to a matt, earthy bright turquoise, which also appears to be Aurichalcite. The globular habit in combination with its stunning colour and silky lustre produces a majestic specimen. A Kelly mine Smithsonite of the highest quality that would grace any top collection, be this private or museum.
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