Smithsonite var. Cobaltian (significant)

Item Description

Smithsonite has the well-earned stature as one of Tsumeb's 'Holy Grail' species, and this small-cabinet piece demonstrates why. The rich pink color, with Cobalt as the chromophore, is uniform and attractive; and the fine, silky luster enhances the color while giving the gemmy crystals depth. This is the classic style for the most valuable and sought after example of the crystallized pink smithsonite from Tsumeb, and it came out in the 1960s or early 1970s. The curved, rhombic habit is iconic for Tsumeb, but rarely seen in such size and presentation: and the largest of these crystals is about 2.3 cm tip-to-tip. This is a good-sized, aesthetic, highly-representative Smithsonite for this great mine. This is a major, significant display specimen, valued $9000-plus.