| General Information |
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| Other Names/Trade Names: | |
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| Chemical Formula | Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references |
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| Physical Properties of Smithsonite |
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| Mohs Hardness | 5 to 5.5Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Specific Gravity | 4.15 to 4.45Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Cleavage Quality | PerfectArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) More from other references |
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| Fracture | UnevenArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) |
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| Optical Properties of Smithsonite |
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| Refractive Index | 1.620 to 1.850Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Birefringence | 0.228Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Pleochroism | NilArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) |
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| Dispersion | NilArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) |
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| Colour |
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| Colour (General) | White, yellowish, brown, green, gray, pink, bluish, orange-yellowUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references |
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| Causes of Colour | Blue-green, Cu2+. Pink, Co2+W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) |
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| Transparency | Translucent,OpaqueHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Lustre | Vitreous,PearlyArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) |
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| Crystallography of Smithsonite |
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| Crystal System | TrigonalHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
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| Habit | Botryoidal, rhombohedralArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) More from other references |
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| Geological Environment |
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| Where found: | Smithsonite occurs as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of zinc-bearing deposits.Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
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| Further Information |
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| Mineral information: | Smithsonite information at mindat.org |
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| Significant Gem Localities |
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| Namibia | | |
| Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 205, 251, 919. | | USA | |
- Magdalena Mining District
| Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 452 |
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