|
Click on a
letter above to view the list of gems. |
|
| Chemistry:
ZnCO3 [Zinc
Carbonate] | Discovered
in 1832;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Smithsonite
is named after James Smithson (1754-1829), British chemist and mineralogist,
founder of the Smithsonian Institution (Washington), who distinguished the
mineral from Hemimorphite. |
|
Classification
|
|
|
Mineral
Classification: |
Carbonates |
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
|
5/B.02-60 |
|
5 : Nitrates, Carbonates & Borates B : Waterfree carbonates without
unfamiliar anions 02 : Calcite group
|
|
|
Crystal
Data
|
|
|
Crystallography:
|
Trigonal
- Hexagonal Scalenohedral |
Crystal
Habit:
|
Uncommon
as crystals, to 10 cm, rhombohedral and scalenohedral;
additional modifying forms, with curved faces; typically
botryoidal, reniform, spherulitic; stalactitic, and
as cave pearls; earthy, friable, granular to porous
or compact massive.
|
Twinning:
|
Rarely
|
|
|
Physical
Properties
|
|
|
Cleavage: |
[1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect, 1011 Perfect
|
Fracture: |
Uneven
to Conchoidal
|
Tenacity:
|
Brittle
|
Moh's
Hardness: |
4.0 - 4.5 |
Density:
|
4.42- 4.44 (g/cm3) |
Luminescence:
|
None |
Radioactivity:
|
Not
Radioactive
|
Other: |
Effervesces
in warm acids |
|
|
Optical
Properties
|
|
|
Color: |
White, grey, yellow, green to apple-green, blue, pink, purple, bluish grey, and
brown |
Transparency: |
Transparent to Translucent |
Luster: |
Vitreous
to Pearly |
Refractive
Index: |
1.619
- 1.850 Uniaxial ( - ) |
Birefringence: |
0.223
- 0.227 (high) |
Dispersion: |
0.037 (high) |
Pleochroism: |
Colorless
|
|
|
Occurances
|
|
|
Geological
Setting: |
Commonly found as a secondary mineral in the oxidization zone of zinc ore
deposits. It can also be found in sedimentary deposits and as a direct
oxidization product of sphalerite. |
Type
Locality: |
Mendips at Derbyshire, UK |
Year
Discovered: |
1832 |
View
mineral photos: |
Smithsonite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
|
|
More
Information
|
|
|
|
Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
|
|
Smithsonite
is a rare member of the Calcite mineral group that includes
Calcite,
Cobaltocalcite,
Gaspéite,
Magnesite,
Rhodochrosite,
and Siderite.
It is available in several
colors that are influenced by the addition of various
other minerals. Pink colors are due to the addition
of cobalt or manganese, yellows from cadmium, blues
and greens from copper. It is also rarely found as colorless.
The blue-green Smithsonite from the Kelly Mine in New
Mexico, USA has been in high demand for many years.
The combination of dispersion almost as high as Diamond
and the beautiful, pearly to silky luster and unusual colors
makes clean, faceted Smithsonite a magnificent gem.
Smithsonite has a high zinc content of about 52%. Smithsonite
is available from many localities worldwide.
|
Smithsonite
gems for sale:
|
Gem:
|
Smithsonite |
Stock
#:
|
SMITH-001 |
Weight:
|
0.4955
ct |
Size: |
4.91
x 4.34 x 2.35 mm |
Shape: |
Cushion |
Color: |
Pastel
Pink |
Clarity: |
Translucent;
Eye
clean |
Origin: |
Mexico |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$42.00 |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
A
rare and beautiful gem with glowing
pastel pink color.
|
|
Gem:
|
Smithsonite |
Stock
#:
|
SMITH-002 |
Weight:
|
2.8275
ct |
Size: |
9.78
x 6.89 x 4.50 mm |
Shape: |
Oval |
Color: |
Pale
Lime Green |
Clarity: |
Translucent; Eye
Clean -
SI |
Origin: |
Santa
Eulalia, Mexico |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$76.00 |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
This one
is large for the type and has a beautiful,
pearly, green glow.
|
|
Gem:
|
Smithsonite |
Stock
#:
|
SMITH-003 |
Weight:
|
2.0750
ct |
Size: |
6.65
x 9.60 x 4.03 mm |
Shape: |
Pear |
Color: |
Pale
Straw Yellow |
Clarity: |
Eye
Clean, Sleepy |
Origin: |
Tsumeb,
Namibia |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$140.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
This one
is large for the type and has a beautiful,
pearly, pale yellow glow.
|
|
|