Smithsonite

specimen number:
2063548

location:
Masua Mine, Iglesias, South Sardinia, Sardinia, Italy

description:
Gorgeous yellow lustrous botryoidal thick banded crystallized smithsonite on matrix. In excellent condition. The color is outstanding. Really fine for this Sardinian classic. The specimen comes with two previous collection labels, one from Fred Parker, and the other from Ray DeMark.

Located along the coastal cliffs of Iglesias in South Sardinia, Italy, the historic Masua Mine targeted primary zinc and lead sulphide deposits hosted in Cambrian carbonate rocks. Active since the seventeenth century and expanded during the nineteenth century, the mining complex became famous for its innovative cliffside transport hub, Porto Flavia, before production ceased in the late twentieth century. Weathering and secondary oxidation within the karstic cavities of these limestone beds produced exceptional mineral specimens, most notably vibrant yellow botryoidal smithsonite. Colored bright lemon-yellow to yellow-green by trace cadmium impurities, these dramatic crusts and rounded stalactitic formations are highly prized by mineral collectors and museums worldwide. Today, active extraction has ended, and the site forms part of a protected geological park, limiting field collecting and making classic vintage specimens highly sought after.

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