Smithsonite var. Cadmium rich (New/old Find)

Item Description

Striking, rich citron-yellow, translucent, waxy luster, banded, bubbly, botryoidal smithsonite encrusts the banded underlying layers of gray fluorite on the matrix plate with sulfides on this excellent specimen from a circa 2005 find at this obscure locality in Yunnan Province (but only brought out to market the last 2 years in China). 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 top lit. A couple of spots of periphery wear are noted, but are certainly only a modest detraction to this colorful piece. 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.