3.4" Sparkling Vibrant Blue Botryoidal Smithsonite - Congo-Brazzaville

Sparkling Vibrant Blue Botryoidal Smithsonite - Congo-Brazzaville #302226

This is a beautiful, 3.4" wide formation of sparkling botryoidal blue smithsonite that comes from the Yanga Koubenza quarries in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). A few pockets of fabulous blue smithsonite and aurichalcite were found in the summer of 2021. This specimen is a small part of that find!

It is accompanied by an acrylic display stand.

Smithsonite forms in earthy botryoidal masses, sometimes forming grape-like structures. It can be found as a secondary mineral in oxidation zones of zinc ore deposits, in some sedimentary deposits, and as an oxidation product of sphalerite. The general chemical formula of smithsonite is ZnCO3, however Fe (iron), Mg (magnesium), Ca (calcium), Cd (cadmium), Cu (copper), and Co (cobalt) can take the place of Zn (zinc). This potential for elemental variation results in smithsonite's wide variety of colors, including blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, brown, gray, white, and colorless.

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