Cuprian Smithsonite casts after unknown

Item Description

This is a spectacularly sparkly piece, very unusual in shape and form, and just a really big example of the rare green (cuprian) variety of smithsonite! It is a large sized and highly unusual, sparkling example of Cuprian Smithsonite from the great Tsumeb Mine that produced numerous and significant Smithsonite specimens during its mining heyday. Green Smithsonite, caused by trace amounts of copper present in the Smithsonite structure, is among the rarest of the Smithsonite varieties here. This piece is composed of several thin septae (curving layers), possibly formed as casts after a pre-existing mineral, that have been mostly replaced by Smithsonite and then blanketed by glistening green spherules of green Cuprian Smithsonite that average 3 mm across. Thousands of bright, lustrous, drusy Smithsonite crystals, with an intense, grass-green color, completely carpet the inner surface of this undulating and 3-dimensional pocket. The scintillating nature of these almost-glassy Smithsonites makes this an exceptionally aesthetic cabinet specimen. It is even more desirable and remarkable when you consider that Tsumeb is long-closed and there will be no more production from here! Valued $6000-7500 at least.