Smithsonite var. Cadmium rich (New Find)

Wei Nan, Yunnan Province, China
Cabinet, 11.1 x 8.0 x 2.2 cm
Start Time: 02/25/2017 6:30:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 03/02/2017 6:39:07 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Rich golden-yellow, translucent, nubby, bubbly smithsonite botryoids with a matte finish in a 5-7 mm banded layer rest atop a thicker glassy, beige layered smithsonite layer on a thin matrix crust on this rich and colorful large specimen from a New Find from an obscure Chinese locale. The yellow color is thought to be due to cadmiun content, as with yellow smithsonite from Tsumeb, Italy, and Mexico. The yellow smithsonite GLOWS, when back lit. A very showy example from Yunnan Province with only a modest bit of periphery wear. These are VERY similar to Italian smithsonites, from the 1800s, that cost an arm and a leg! And, those are super rare on the market. This new find really sets a new standard and gives the rest of us a chance to acquire one in this style at a reasonable price point.

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