Smithsonite (classic old Ireland locale)

Item Description

Translucent lemon-yellow smithsonite botryoids cover the sides of the quartz matrix on this classic and desirable old-timer from this extinct small Irish zinc deposit worked in about 1862-63 (MINDAT). Mined for the sphalerite, the smithsonite was originally left on the spoil mounds as gangue material! The bright color is caused by trace amounts of cadmium sulfide. We almost never see these for sale today! Pieces like this were said to be collected in remining of the dumps in the 1960s and 1970s, but few are to be found today.