Manganoan Smithsonite w Chalcocite Inclusions on Sulfides - image 1

Manganoan Smithsonite w Chalcocite Inclusions on Sulfides

Unknown Owner
This is a really quite an interesting specimen for a variety of reasons. The first reason is that due to the particular reddish color of the smithsonite and the association with pyrite this specimen would typically be attributed as a manganoan smithsonite rather than a stereotypical cobaltoan smithsonite. These particular manganoan smithsonites were mined 1984-1985 and are much harder to find than the cobaltoan variety. Now I will state that no analysis has been done and this attribution of color due to trace elements at Tsumeb is actually quite a tricky topic and many purist will argue it should be simply called smithsonite. However besides just the color there are inclusions in this smithsonite that are identified on the original Clive Queit label as being chalcocite! That is not common by any means. Additionally there is a mixture of crystallized chalcocite, pyrite, chalcopyrite matrix on the bottom of the smithsonite. So truly a greatly interesting specimen if you like Tsumeb mineralogy.

Product details

Species
Smithsonite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, PyriteAbout Smithsonite →
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.5 x 4.3 x 2.4 cm
Added on03/26/2025
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
09/2025Unknown 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 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.