Cadmium Smithsonite on Galena - image 1

Cadmium Smithsonite on Galena

Unknown Owner
The orange, cadmium-bearing variety of Smithsonite is rarely seen as well-defined crystals anywhere in the world, except for Tsumeb, but even then specimens are certainly not common. High class specimens like this, with an intensity in colour such that the crystals look like they are glowing are absolute rarities to be treasured. Sat upon a partially oxidized but sturdy Galena base the Smithsonite developed initially as a thin crust but expanded outwards into much larger and perfectly formed rhombic crystals. The largest crystal reaches 1.2 cm in length on edge, but most are in the 4 to 5 mm size range. In common with most cadmium Smithsonite from Tsumeb mine, the initial Smithsonite is white to colourless indicating a relatively pure zinc carbonate with the orange colour developing later towards the edges of the crystals. This transition has produced a magnificent colour zonation within the crystals, adding to its undoubted class. Furthermore, light transmits through the orange tips to produce a wonderful glow. At cabinet specimen in size, this specimen displays superbly well. An extremely classy Tsumeb Smithsonite from the generations-old Weyand collection.

Product details

Species
Smithsonite, GalenaAbout Smithsonite →
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions9.8 x 6.0 x 4.8 cm
Added on11/22/2025
Locality
Namibia, Oshikoto Region, TsumebRegional guide →

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
01/2026Unknown Owner$5,000.00
—Crystal ClassicsNot disclosed

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.