smithsonite (w. goethite)

TSNB726
Specimen
Klein, W.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite (w. goethite); 120 mm.
Exhibit 1. Smithsonite (w. goethite); 120 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. 30 mm field of view.
Exhibit 2. 30 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 3. 20 mm field of view.
Exhibit 3. 20 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Thumbnail by 1Thumbnail by 2Thumbnail by 3

Specimen Title

smithsonite (w. goethite)

Associated Minerals

azurite; cerussite; goethite; kaolinite (?)

Principal Mineral

Smithsonite

Size

Cabinet; 120mm

Location in the Mine

First oxidation zone; 8 Level

Provenance

Klein, W.

Collection

MGMH; 106017

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB726

Description

Alternating layers of botryoidal, translucent, pale sea-green smithsonite, and charcoal-grey to blackish-brown goethite, also botryoidal. The display face (Exhibit 1) intersects layers of both minerals. Inclusions of azurite are present at the junction of the smithsonite and goethite (Exhibit 2). The smithsonite is partly encrusted with a thin layer of a chalky-white clay mineral, possibly kaolinite (?) and very sparse twinned crystals (to 3 mm) of off-white cerussite (Exhibit 3).


The specimen was number 1045 in the collection of Wilhelm Klein, production manager at Tsumeb between 1916 and 1939. His catalogue describes the specimen as "Zinkspat mit Kaolin & Azurit" [smithsonite with kaolinite and azurite] and attributes it to 8 Level in the first oxidation zone.