Smithsonite var. Cuprian - image 1
Smithsonite var. Cuprian - image 2
Smithsonite var. Cuprian - image 3
Smithsonite var. Cuprian - image 4

Smithsonite var. Cuprian

Unknown Owner
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Fine cuprian rich smithsonite from Tsumeb is rare and highly coveted. Sharp crystals are more so. GEMMY and sharp crystals, with intense color - well, these are almost never seen for sale! Nestled aesthetically in a vug of massive ore are glassy and gemmy rhombohedrons of emerald-green smithsonite. The largest of these razor-sharp rhomb's reach 1.25 cm across. Mesmerizing in their combination of sharpness and color, this is a spectacularly rare quality for this species and this material! It ranks among the top dozen green smithsonites I have seen or handled in this size range, from my experience of handling at least half a dozen major Tsumeb collections over 20 years. These are gemmy, sharp, and have the most rare green color. No other locality EVER produced anything like this in smithsonite, and it was only one or two pockets from Tsumeb over the course of 100 years of mining. This came out of an old European collection to the market in Europe, and I was shocked to see it.

Product details

SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions7.2 x 4.3 x 2.5 cm
Added on10/23/2024

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2024Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
The ArkenstoneNot disclosed

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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
from Tsumeb, Namibia — varied rhombohedral and botryoidal forms, pink to green colors, and mineral associations; a prized locality for collectors.