Smithsonite with Calcite (1831)

specimen number:
8811744

location:
Kamareza Mines, Lavrion, Attica, Greece

description:
Lustrous botryoidal almost chatoyant crystallized smithsonite covering the top of matrix with minor calcite. The specimen is in excellent condition.

The Kamareza mines in the Lavrion district of Attica, Greece are part of one of the oldest mining regions in Europe. Mining in the area dates back to ancient Greek times when silver rich lead ores were extracted to support the economy of Athens. The deposits occur in carbonate rocks and contain minerals such as galena, sphalerite, and numerous secondary lead minerals. The district later saw renewed mining in the 19th and early 20th centuries and is now famous among collectors for its wide variety of mineral species.

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