Smithsonite var. Manganoan

Item Description

Unusually-colored, this bright and reflective Smithsonite is from the now-closed Tsumeb Mine in Namibia, from a unique pocket in 1984 or 1985. Gemmy, with an almost 'electric' red-salmon color, the Smithsonites have unusually glassy faces. The color is special - a hot red-pink that is not caused by cobalt like all the other pink smithsonite here, but by manganese. The manganese makes it more red, and for whatever reason made all of these exhibit a sharp rhombohedral form instead of the curved or deformed shape of the usual pink smithsonite crystals from here (cobalt and manganese serve almost the same in the crystal lattice, but not exactly the same...hence the different shape constraint). Such specimens are super rare today, and in fact many were originally sold as cobaltian. Aside from the shape and color, the matrix is distinct as well, with a little bit of pyrite within. Rarely, do these turn up, especially correctly labelled. Some crystals are damaged, but most are intact. Averaging up to 7-8 mm, the uniform size, vivid color, and lustrous faces give this large miniature an eye-catching look.