Smithsonite - image 1

Smithsonite

Unknown Owner
A lovely blue smithsonite from the Kelly mine. The majority of the specimen is botryoidal but there are some half formed bubbles on the top which interestingly show a transition from botryoidal growth to a rice grain habit. A classic American locality.

Product details

Species
SmithsoniteAbout Smithsonite →
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions8.2 x 8.0 x 4.0 cm
Added on12/20/2024
Locality
USA, New Mexico, Kelly MineRegional guide →

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
04/2026Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
—DanZ RockshopNot 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 Kelly Mine, New Mexico, USA
Kelly Mine smithsonite is one of the defining American classics: rounded, grape-like masses of blue to blue-green zinc carbonate with a glow that can look less like a mineral surface than a pool of frozen water. The best pieces are the famous “Kelly blue” specimens—translucent, lustrous botryoidal crusts and spheroids, often with pale internal banding visible along broken edges or natural windows. Fine examples combine color, luster, depth, and undamaged rolling form in a way that makes them instantly recognizable across a room.