Description
This specimen is from the Refugio Mine in Choix, Mun.de Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico. This mine is famous for the smithsonite specimens recovered and offered on the market by Benny Fenn. Smithsonite is a carbonate mineral containing the elements Zn, C, and O. It is found in the oxidation zones of zinc ore deposits. This locale produced ( no longer in operation ) a wide variety of colors and multiple color combinations of the mineral. This specimen has an outstanding pink color which is the least common color found. It consists of botryoidal knobs and mound-like formations of pink smithsonite with a minor primary layer blue smithsonite showing around the edges. It is translucent at the surface under bright light and it has a vitreous luster. This piece measures 3 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/4 inches or 76 x 45 x32 mm.
