Smithsonite - image 1
Smithsonite - image 2
specimen video

Smithsonite

$950.00

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Crystal Classics
Crystal ClassicsFeatured
Tucson, Arizona, USA
7,543 for sale·132 sold
Tsumeb mine is famous for many things mineralogical, and is particularly noteworthy for its diversity of Smithsonite. The Smithsonite crystals seen here are insanely gemmy, so much so that if it wasn't for their density one might think that they are something else. That said, they do present a slightly pearlescent lustre and show the classic 'diamond'-shaped rhombic form typical of Smithsonite. These exceptional crystals are transparent almost colourless, suggestive of extemely pure zinc carbonate. Reaching up to 1.5 cm in length they form a thick layer upon fine-grained sulphide (probably Galena) but this is not seen from the main display direction. A really very remarkable Smithsonite which makes for a superb large miniature to small cabinet-sized display. Ex Weyand collection.

Product details

Species
Smithsonite, GalenaAbout Smithsonite →
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions6.5 x 5.3 x 3.3 cm
Listed on09/17/2025
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →
SKUCC52790

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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.