Home > American Minerals IV – August 26 > MS1647 Smithsonite

Smithsonite - Sold


Smithsonite is a zinc carbonate. In zinc deposits, the mineral is quite common, and often confused with hemimorphite. Beudant (1832) named the species after James Smithson (1754-1829), who founded the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonite typically appears as rounded and botryoidal formations. At this locality in New Mexico, inclusions of aurichalcite impart a sea foam blue coloration.

This is a botryoidal mass of smithsonite, with minor attached limestone matrix on the backside. Its rich sea foam color is classic for the locality; it is a so called "American mineral treasure" (Staebler & Wilson, 2008). This specimen was part of the Charles Trantham (1936-2020) estate.