Smithsonite var. Cobaltian

Item Description

Tsumeb is famous for Smithsonite and all of its varietals, and yet most of those specimens are, quite as you would expect, a reasonable size for survival and mining in good condition. Specimens of this size were always uncommon, and came out in the 1960s-1970s only rarely. This is a large plate of Tsumeb Smithsonite completely covered with sparkling pink crystals on the display front that are in shockingly pristine condition given the size and rarity. Tsumeb Smithsonite came in a great variety of colors and forms: this one has hundreds of small, 2 to 4 mm, translucent to almost transparent, scalenohedral crystals covering the large display face, and it just sparkles with any incident light. The Smithsonites cover every ridge and flat surface giving some three-dimensionality to this attractive large cabinet piece. The crystals are in excellent condition with only minor contacting around the periphery. Specimens of this quality and size, today about 50 years later, simply are not on the market, especially not at auction. This was from the display collection of Tsumeb minerals on display for decades in Dr. Pohl's home, for her own enjoyment of her favorite locality.