smithsonite

TSNB505
Specimen
Kovac, C.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite; 48 mm.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite; 48 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; smithsonite.
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; smithsonite.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Thumbnail by 1Thumbnail by 2

Specimen Title

smithsonite

Associated Minerals

(not assigned)

Principal Mineral

Smithsonite

Size

Miniature; 48mm

Provenance

Kovac, C.

Collection

Southwood, M.; MS2003.014

Entry Number

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.