Smithsonite (classic material)

Item Description

A good representative specimen of Smithsonite from this most famous of localities. Tsumeb is regarded by many as the single greatest mineral producing locality in history, known for a wide range of species from rather common to exceedingly rare. This piece is filled with sharp, classic, semi-lustrous, slightly chatoyant, translucent, "smoky" colored rhombic crystals measuring up to 2.6 cm on matrix. The crystals are not tightly intergrown, so there is a little bit of room between them to appreciate individual shapes. It doesn't get more classic than Tsumeb, and Smithsonite is certainly one of the signature species from the locality, which has been found in a wide variety of habits, colors and varieties. Valued at $1,600. This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".