Smithsonite var. Cadmium rich (New/old Find)

Item Description

Two-sided sculptural and colorful small cabinet of citron-yellow, waxy luster, translucent, banded, bubbly, botryoidal smithsonite encrusting a core of granular gray smithsonite, 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 back is contacted, but there is little actual damage. 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. The gradation to gray smithsonite in the interior adds character. 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.