Zincite...That must have been one HUGE Smokestack in Poland!

I think it worth repeating here something Alan Plante has pointed out in another forum: It is our duty as a scientific hobby to educate the general public, and avoid misleading anyone. This material is NOT "zincite". Zincite is a mineral name, and artificial substances are not "minerals". It ought to be sold as "zinc oxide crystals", not zincite. If anyone needs REAL zincite, they can find it easily on the dumps at Franklin.

You know what, I'm not too fussed whether they say it was created in a smoke stack, or in a temperature-controlled special furnace or whatever. As long as they make it clear it's an industrial product and not a mineral specimen.

At that point, of course it's up to the dealer to be as honest as they can about the origin of their material - but remember - all they are doing is reporting what is told to them by the people who make it. And if that company for whatever reason wants to be secretive about their industrial processes - then that's up to them.

It's not a mineral, it's an artifact, it's out of our jurisdiction really in this case!

Jolyon

I completely agree with Jolyon. I think the main thing is that is important for the dealer to be honest with the specimen. I find them a convenient source for chemistry experiments, as extracting Zinc Oxide from sunscreen takes quite a while, they were able to crystallize, so they are pretty pure, so unless I'm doing something analytical, I just go up to a "metaphysical" shop, buy one, and powder it. The result: Powdered Zinc Oxide, made from the exact source that it is made from by many industrial companies.

Justin,
Yes, I did see some photos of a smokestack with the "zincite" (this was in the 70's
in Europe). I do know that the many are from the Original "deposit". I bought about 1,000 lbs of the pieces with the largest being 35".

I inspected my lot in Vienna and also purchased superb pieces at Prague.

Later, I purchased a few of the lab grown pieces and was told that they were lab grown - these were mainly facet rough.

Could I prove that the of the smokestack were the majority, no. But it was supposedly about three tons.

Little is available except at very high prices.

The colors range was tremendous and the green were often lab grown.

Chris

Hi Chris,

That's really interesting. I'm glad you could serve as the source of information about this! I'm going to pick your brain a bit in Dallas then! =)

Well, 3 tons...6,000 pounds. From the 70's. They are not exactly fragile, but they do break. People like to facet them, don't they? How many pounds have made it to the big garbage dump in the sky?

I would still feel confident that a large amount of material available for sale is lab grown.

There are several variables in formation and apperance in the specimens. It would be interesting to be able to find out more information about these.

Justin,
See me at Dallas. I will try to fill in the gaps.

Chris

Ebay item #190094951959

Amazing that this seller made it clear on description "spectacular MINERAL"!

Anyone selling Zincite is selling stuff fraudulently, and is therefore a fraudster, isnt it ?

Hi Maria,

Once again as before well observed and stated, but one thing you must remember my friend is that it's ok for some and not for others or so this forum will have you believe....but you are correct this is a very fraudulent act and it's being carried out by some supposedly reputable and trustworhty dealers.

Craig

Selling this stuff as a "mineral" is misrepresentation at least, fraud at worst. It is a chemical that is artificially (or anthropogenically) crystallized, no less so than the potassium alum crystals so often sold as legitimate minerals. The difference is that zincite, which so very, very rarely is found as crystals in nature, makes these gigantic crystals a curiosity more so than with similar creations of some other synthetics.

The mining accident zincite is distinguished from other zincite by it's melted quality. Most zincite is made up of pointed crystals where as the polish mining zincite is bubble like. I wish I had batteries for my camera and I would show you the difference. If it is pointy crystals it is not rare. If it looks melted it is very rare. Because zincite is pointed though does not mean it is worthless. As with all minerals and stones there are quality and rough examples.

"Mining accident" is not the right term. "Smelting accident" perhaps? Anyway, the crystals are the result of an industrial process, not mining. That is an important distinction for mineral collectors.

Polish "zincites" were growing during many years in smokestacks which were low quality and because of cracks air was entering in them. Once on some time smokestacks were cleaning to prevent completely "blockage" of them by "zincite". After cleaning "zincites" went to dumps and later were selling. "production" was hundreds of kg each year. Now smokestacks are repaired and zincites do not grow any more. There is no Polish zincites connected with mining accidents.
I hope that helps.
Tomek

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"Spirifer" Geological Society

Hi all,
My daughter in law's mother is a geochemist and works for the Polish Geological Survey. When I asked her to organise me some zincites, she said she knows they are all men-made and I should not bother with them.Regards Rolf