Smithsonite (Robertson Coll.)

Item Description

A very sculptural miniature of densely intergrown, glassy, translucent, tan smithsonite rhombs from the famous Berg Aukas Mine. The striated rhombs reach 1.2 cm on this cutie. Berg Aukas produced the world's finest descloizite specimens and has arguably produced better quality smithsonite than those from the nearby Tsumeb Mine, but probably don't get enough credit today as they were not as plentiful. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 3588 and acquired in the mid-1960s. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). High quality old-time Berg Aukas smithsonite with fine form. It looks like a box turtle in one view with the high shell, long neck and head.