Smithsonite

specimen number:
8701013

location:
Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

description:
Attractive slightly translucent bluish green botryoidal crystallized smithsonite across the top of matrix. In great condition.

The Choix mining district, located in the northwestern part of Sinaloa, Mexico, is famous for producing some of the worlds most vibrant and aesthetically pleasing smithsonite specimens. Geologically, these deposits are found within the oxidized zones of lead-zinc-silver replacement bodies, where primary sulfide minerals like sphalerite were weathered and the zinc was redeposited as smithsonite in limestone cavities. The smithsonite from this locality is celebrated for its botryoidal habit and intense, varied colors ranging from neon pink and lavender to electric blue and sea-foam green, often possessing a pearly or silky luster. Historically, mining and quarrying activities in the Choix region have occurred intermittently since the colonial era, with modern industrial interest peaking in the mid-20th century. While several mines operate in the area, such as the San Antonio and Refugio mines, the most significant discovery of high-quality pink and blue smithsonite occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s, sparking a renewed interest among global collectors

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