Smithsonite (classic old Ireland locale)

Sheshodonnell East Mine, The Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland
Miniature, 4.2 x 4.1 x 3.6 cm
Start Time: 01/12/2018 6:45:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 01/18/2018 6:30:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Frosted lemon-yellow, translucent cadmium-rich smithsonite botryoids cover the rolling matrix on this colorful, rich and sculptural miniature. This is a classic and desirable old-time species from this extinct small Irish zinc deposit worked in about 1862-63 (MINDAT). Mined for the sphalerite, the smithsonite was originally left on the spoil mounds as gangue material! We almost never see these for sale today! Pieces like this were said to be collected in remining of the dumps in the 1960s and 1970s, but few are to be found today. The bit of periphery wear has negligible impact to the high quality of this piece.

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