Smithsonite (w. greenockite)

TSNB625
Specimen
Bruce, I.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite (w, greenockite); 60 mm.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite (w, greenockite); 60 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; smithsonite.
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; smithsonite.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
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Specimen Title

Smithsonite (w. greenockite)

Associated Minerals

galena; greenockite; quartz

Principal Mineral

Smithsonite

Size

Cabinet; 60mm

Location in the Mine

Undetermined

Provenance

Bruce, I.

Collection

Southwood, M.; MS2015.047

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB625

Description

Brown, almost smoky, crystals of smithsonite (to 6 mm) comprising prism and rhombohedron forms, on massive sulphide, mainly galena, with a little quartz. The smithsonite has a dull lustre and appears to be lightly etched. The sulphide matrix between the smithsonite crystals has a cavernous texture and is also quite heavily etched; one area of this matrix is quite richly scattered with microscopic orange-brown crystals of greenockite (c. 0.2 mm).

The specimen was purchased from Ian Bruce in 2015, but its earlier provenance and location in the mine are not recorded.

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 2022; Southwood et al. 2025). They hypothesised that the brown colouration is due to partial oxidation of Fe2+ in solid solution in the smithsonite. Analytical data is presented in Exhibit 2.