Smithsonite

specimen number:
8311393

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:

Beautiful green lustrous crystals of smithsonite covering the top of matrix. This is aesthetic and in great condition.

The Tsumeb Mine, located in the Otavi Mountainland of northern Namibia, is a world-renowned polymetallic deposit and a premier locality for secondary minerals. Geologically, it is a pipe-like ore body hosted within Neo-Proterozoic carbonate rocks, particularly dolomite, where deep-reaching oxidation created an incredibly diverse mineralogical environment. The mine is famous for its exceptional green smithsonite, which owes its vibrant color to trace amounts of copper within the crystal structure, often appearing in botryoidal, rhombohedral, or cuprian-enriched forms. Historically, the deposit was known by local San and Owambo people for centuries before German colonial interest led to the formation of the Otavi Minen-und Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (OMEG). Industrial operations began in 1907 and continued with few interruptions until the mine finally closed in 1996 due to flooding and economic factors. Over its 89-year life, Tsumeb produced millions of tons of copper, lead, and zinc ore, while simultaneously providing the global mineral market with some of the most aesthetic and scientifically significant specimens ever recovered.

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