Smithsonite on Galena - image 1
Smithsonite on Galena - image 2
specimen video

Smithsonite on Galena

$700.00

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Crystal Classics
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Tucson, Arizona, USA
7,543 for sale·132 sold
Smithsonite is one of the all-time classic mineral species from Tsumeb mine and occurs in a variety of colours and crystal forms. This fine miniature specimen reveals an interesting association between primary Galena (lead sulphide) as the core, and secondary Smithsonite (zinc carbonate) as overgrowing crystals. The Smithsonite crystals occur as individuals and loosely spaced connected crystals rather than a thick crowded layer. This allows the wonderful individual rhombic form of the crystals to be seen. This is especially so on one side of the specimen, with more intense coverage on the opposite side. Individual crystals reach 1 cm in length which is a great size for Smithsonite crystals, especially ones with such pronounced form. They are colourless to cream in colour and transparent to translucent, indicating that they are relatively pure zinc carbonate. The underlying Galena has a somewhat rough, etched appearance, but looks to consist of crystals. Ex Weyand collection.

Product details

Species
Smithsonite, GalenaAbout Smithsonite →
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.4 x 3.3 x 3.5 cm
Listed on09/03/2025
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →
SKUCC53218

Learn more

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.