Smithsonite var. Cobaltian

$6,500.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

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This attractive cobaltoan smithsonite (old phrasing vs the smithsonite variety cobaltian, used more recently) is from the 1970s or early 1980s at Tsumeb and is very rare in this quality today. One of the most classic styles of smithsonite from this locality are these famous "pinks" and there is a range of pink colors: this one is a lovely vibrant pink with good color saturation about near the most "pure" pink end of spectrum without the usual hints of brown or rust or maroon. These slightly curved, lustrous and translucent, pink crystals of cobaltoan smithsonite average just over 1 cm in size. The isolated translucent and sharp rhombohedrons here are a rare style all on their own which seems to be common in Tsumeb smithsonite but not often seen in other locations. The elegance here is in combining crystal habit and color, plus a good 3-dimensional style so that we have a truly special small cabinet sized specimen that is really quite better than most in size class. The specimen is very three-dimensional with numerous crystals mounded at the center top, for a focal point; whereas many others are more like flat plates you tilt up to fool the eye into thinking they are three-dimensional. These attractive smithsonites cover a dark gray, granular metallic matrix of galena and sphalerite. The crystals are in fantastic condition with no damage. #32813 in the collection, dated to shortly after it was mined (likely in mid 1970s). Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher #32813