Smithsonite ps. Calcite

Item Description

This rich and showy replacment is from the famous Santa Eulalia mine. Sharp dogtooth Calcite scalenohedrons have been pseudomorphed by reddish-orange Smithsonite. The pseudomorphs reach over 1 cm in height, and they have a texture to their surfaces that is remarkably uniform. Interestingly, exposed pockets along the side of the matrix show that the original Smithsonite may have been highly lustrous and an attractive cream color, perhaps indicating that there was a coloring agent such as iron present during the replacement phase of the Calcites. This small cabinet specimen is attractive and scupltural, and all the peaks and valleys reminding me of the famous karst topography in China. A fine specimen, and an old classic.Unlike most of these we have seen that have a bland color, this one is actually very red and attractive. Valued $1250