Smithsonite var. Cadmium rich w/ Greenockite (RARE - New/old Find)

Item Description

Striking variably sized yellow-green, waxy lustre, translucent, banded, bubbly, botryoidal smithsonite encrusts the sculptural large matrix from a circa 2005 find at this obscure locality in Yunnan Province (but only brought out to market the last 2 years in China). I particularly like the way the largest botryoids are at one end and along the crest of the piece. The yellow smithsonite encrusts the banded underlying layers of gray fluorite around the matrix core. The yellow color is thought to be due to cadmiun content, as with yellow smithsonite from Tsumeb, Italy, and Mexico. The starkly contrasting orange crusts noted in some furrows are Greenockite, an uncommon Cd-sulfide, which is VERY RARE from Yunnan. MINDAT lists 5 localities for the species in Yunnan, but there no photos in the Gallery. 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 and rare combination at a reasonable price point. No more have come out recently. Valued $1250