Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Title
smithsonite
Principal Mineral
Size
Miniature; 48mm
Collection
Southwood, M. MS2003.014
Provenance
Kovac, C.
Entry Type
Specimen TSNB505
Description
An intergrowth of petaloid (flatttened rhombohedral) smithsonite crystals (to 18 mm), translucent and very pale rose-pink in colour.
Purchased from Australian dealer Cyril Kovac in 2003, but with no record of its earlier provenance.
The specimen has been analysed by EMPA-WDS and LA-ICP-MS as part of a study of the causes of colour in smithsonite (Weall 2023; Southwood et al. 2025) who hypothesised that the subtle rose-pink colour is linked to the presence of Co (61 ppm) and Mn (811 ppm) in combination; each element, individually, is at a concentration not expected to affect colour formation. Analytical data is presented in Exhibit 2.
Associated Minerals
(not assigned)