Smithsonite (classic material)

Item Description

A classic specimen of Smithsonite from the Kelly Mine (Kurt's collection catalogue states that it's from the "Old Kelly Mine") featuring somewhat "velvety", soft silvery-blue colored botryoidal groups on matrix. The top side of the piece is in very good condition, and the largest isolated "ball" atop the piece measures 1.2 cm across. A showy piece of this renowned material. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#166 US), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.