Reviews
1.3" Botryoidal Pink-Green Smithsonite - Mexico
This is a botryoidal formation of translucent pink-green smithsonite that was collected from Chihuahua, Mexico. The color of the smithsonite transitions from an earlier green formation, to a later growth of pink-purple crystals. This smithsonite specimen gains its pink color from cobalt.
Smithsonite is known to form in earthy botryoidal masses, sometimes forming grape-like structures. It can be found as a secondary mineral in oxidation zones of zinc ore deposits, in some sedimentary deposits and as an oxidation product of sphalerite. The general chemical formula of smithsonite is ZnCO3, however Fe (iron), Mg (magnesium), Ca (calcium), Cd (cadmium), Cu (copper), and Co (cobalt) can take the place of Zn (zinc). This potential for elemental variation results in smithsonite having the ability to exhibit a wide variety of colors including blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, brown, gray, white and colorless.
