Smithsonite
Mineral ZnCO3
Also called Dry-bone ore and Bonamite
About it
Grape-like crusts in blue, green, pink, or yellow with a pearly shine, heavy for its look. Named for James Smithson; famous from the Kelly mine, New Mexico, and Tsumeb, Namibia.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate, calcite group
- Formula
- ZnCO3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4–4.5
- Specific gravity
- 4.4–4.5
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), pearly
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- white, grey, blue, green, pink, yellow, brown, purple
- Transparency
- translucent, transparent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect rhombohedral
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.