Cuprian Smithsonite

Item Description

This is a really impressive and neon green colored cabinet-sized example of Cuprian Smithsonite from Tsumeb. The best green smithsonite from all the world, came from Tsumeb in the 1960s-early 1980s, and crystals of this robust size combined with the shocking intense color were very, very rarely seen. The size and overall richness of this specimen puts it among the finer examples of this particular style. A rounded vug of matrix is entirely lined by complexly crystallized multifaceted, translucent, mint green Cuprian Smithsonite crystals. There are dozens of these complex crystals to 1 cm that line the interior to produce a very attractive and well composed piece of this copper-bearing Smithsonite varietal. The thick, translucent "carpet" of crystals wraps around sides and top, and is pristine on the display face! The only contacts are on the sides where it came out of a pocket wall and there, you can see that the smithsonite layer is thick - over 1 cm and more. It is actually lapidary quality smithsonite that could cut cabochons! Large Cuprian Smithsonites like this are rare and this one is very pretty and in excellent condition! It is a fantastic, color impact piece like almost no other mineral, and you can see it from across a room. Valued $20-25k low to high. Such pieces only come up as the most important of the previous generation of collections is recycled to market. Smaller specimens routinely sell for 5-10k, and this is huge and massive compared to most. Long on display in the main Tsumeb room of Dr. Pohl's large mineral museum in her home, for decades.