Cuprian Smithsonite - image 1
Cuprian Smithsonite - image 2
specimen video

Cuprian Smithsonite

$500.00

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Smithsonite is a classic example of an allochromatic mineral - a mineral which when totally pure is colourless but is strongly influenced by traces of other elements which provide colour. For example the presence of cobalt creates bright bubblegum pink, cadmium produces shades of yellow and orange and copper equates to green or blue hues. Oddly, the influence of these colouring agents also appear to have a effect upon the crystal form presented by the Smithsonite. For example it is largely unheard of to find large, rhombic, green coloured crystals of Cuprian Smithsonite. Instead, Cuprian Smithsonite is nearly always finely crystallized, either as botryoidal crusts or sugary sparry microcrystals as replacement casts, or as sparkling finely crystallized crusts. This very lovely small miniature specimen is from the famous Tsumeb mine in Namibia which is renowned for its diverse range of coloured Smithsonite. Although small, the brightness of vibrancy of the green colour is exceptional, making this an extremely choice miniature. Ex Weyand collection.

Product details

Species
SmithsoniteAbout Smithsonite →
SizeMiniature
Dimensions3.4 x 2.3 x 1.5 cm
Listed on09/17/2025
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →
SKUCC53636

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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.