Cuprian Smithsonite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameCuprian Smithsonite
Chemical Formula(Zn,Cu)CO3
Mohs Hardness4
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect rhombohedral {1011}
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity4.35
Colorsgreen, blue, turquoise
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityChessy-les-Mines, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usescollector, jewelry
Associated Mineralsmalachite, azurite, hemimorphite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features vibrant light green to greenish-blue botryoidal aggregates of cuprian smithsonite, with some areas showing a more intense turquoise color, growing on a brownish matrix.
Geological Context
Cuprian smithsonite is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of zinc-copper ore deposits, typically forming in carbonate host rocks where zinc-rich solutions react with copper-bearing minerals.
