Smithsonite with Fluorite (1535)

specimen number:
8811769

location:
Sheshodonnell East Mine, Carron, The Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland

description:

A wonderful attractive example for the species from this classic Irish locality. Attractive yellow botryoidal crystallized smithsonite covering matrix with minor fluorite. This is in super condition with great color. I believe that the specimen was figured in the book Think Zinc, however with an erroneous locality provided. This is classic for the species and locality. The specimen was on public display at the 2026 Tucson Gem and Mineral show.

Situated in the midst of one of Europe's best examples of limestone karst scenery, this tiny, Victorian lead mine hosts the most remarkable deposit of smithsonite in the British Isles. Amazingly the sphalerite vein has been completely altered to green, yellow, grey and white botryoidal smithsonite! Worked on a very small scale from about 1862-1863 a vein varying from about 30-45 cm in width was worked by a shallow trench over a distance of about 100 m. All of the smithsonite was originally left in the spoil as a gangue mineral and Russell (1917) states that 3 or 4 tons of smithsonite was visible on the spoil! Sadly virtually none remains today as most has been bulldozed down the shaft and whatever scraps were left have been long ago collected...The color is due to a little cadmium sulfide. Little more than a tiny badly weathered spoil heap remains today - nothing remotely comparable to its heyday! (from Mindat)

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