Cuprian Smithsonite - image 1

Cuprian Smithsonite - image 2

Cuprian Smithsonite

Unknown Owner

A nicely colored minty green smithsonite that seems to be pseudomorphing a previous mineral likely azurite. The scalenohedral smithsonite crystals have excellent luster and sparkle profusely when the specimen is well lit. I note one small spot of damage on the specimen which is in otherwise good condition.

Product details

Species

SmithsoniteAbout Smithsonite →

SizeMuseum

Dimensions44.0 x 4.2 x 2.7 cm

Added on09/13/2025

Locality

Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →

Known provenance

Date	Collector	Acquisition price
10/2025	Unknown Owner	Not disclosed
—	DanZ Rockshop	Not disclosed

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Smithsonite

Learn about Smithsonite

ZnCO3 with botryoidal and crystalline forms, silky to vitreous luster, pastel hues from cobalt to yellow; localities boost collecting appeal.

Smithsonite

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.