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Smithsonite

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Kelly Mine, Magdalena District, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Smithsonite Photos (771)
Formula:
ZnCO
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:White, grey, yellow, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, PearlyHardness:4 - 4½
Name:Named after James Smithson (1754-1829), British chemist and mineralogist, founder of the Smithsonian Institution (Washington), who distinguished the mineral from calamine (hemimorphite).


Calcite Group

Smithsonite is found as a secondary mineral in the oxidization zone of zinc ore deposits. It can also be found in sedimentary deposits and as a direct oxidization product of sphalerite.

Classification of Smithsonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.02-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.1.6

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.6.1

11 : Carbonates
6 : Carbonates of Zn and Cd
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Occurrences of Smithsonite

Geological Setting:Oxidized zones of zinc ore deposits.

Physical Properties of Smithsonite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White, grey, yellow, green to apple-green, blue, pink, purple, bluish grey, and brown; colourless or faintly tinted in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Very Good
On {1011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Translation gliding:Translation gliding with T{0001}, t{1010}.
Density (measured):4.42 - 4.44 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.43 g/cm3

Crystallography of Smithsonite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3c (R3 2/c)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.6526(7) Å, c = 15.0257(22) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.23
Unit Cell Volume:V 281.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals rhombohedral {1011}; less commonly {0221}. Crystal faces usually curved and rough or composite; rarely scalenohedral. Botryoidal, reniform, or stalactitic; incrustations; coarsely granular to compact massive; earthy, friable.
Twinning:None observed.
Crystal Atlas:
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Smithsonite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Smithsonite no.13 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Epitaxial Relationships of Smithsonite

Epitaxial Minerals:
ZinciteOtaviteCalcite
Epitaxi Comments:Smithsonite upon calcite with parallel axes. Oriented pseudomorphs of ZnO are formed by thermal dissociation. Otavite oriented growths on smithsonite (Tsumeb).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Smithsonite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.842 - 1.850 nε = 1.619 - 1.623
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.223 - 0.227

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High

Chemical Properties of Smithsonite

Formula:
ZnCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, O, Zn
All elements listed in formula:C, O, Zn
Common Impurities:Fe,Co,Cu,Mn,Ca,Cd,Mg,In

Relationship of Smithsonite to other Species

Related to:
  • Calcite Group
    • Common Associates:
    WillemitePyromorphiteMimetiteMalachiteHydrozincite
    HemimorphiteCerussiteAzuriteAurichalciteAnglesite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    5.AB.05Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Gaspéite
    (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Magnesite
    MgCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Otavite
    CdCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
    MnCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Siderite
    FeCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
    CoCO
     
    3
    5.AB.10Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Kutnohorite
    Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Minrecordite
    CaZn(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.15Aragonite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Cerussite
    PbCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Strontianite
    SrCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Witherite
    BaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.20Vaterite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.25Huntite
    CaMg
     
    3
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    5.AB.30Norsethite
    BaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.35Alstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Olekminskite
    Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Paralstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.45Barytocalcite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.50Carbocernaite
    (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.55Benstonite
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    6
    		(Ca,Mn)
     
    6
    		Mg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    13
    5.AB.60Juangodoyite
    Na
     
    2
    		Cu(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    11.6.2Hydrozincite
    Zn
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    11.6.3Rosasite
    (Cu,Zn)
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
    11.6.4Zincrosasite
    (Zn,Cu)
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
    11.6.5Aurichalcite
    (Zn,Cu)
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    11.6.6Claraite
    (Cu,Zn)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    11.6.7Minrecordite
    CaZn(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    11.6.8Loseyite
    (Zn,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    7
    		[(OH)
     
    5
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    11.6.9Sclarite
    (Zn,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    4
    		Zn
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    5
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    11.6.10Otavite
    CdCO
     
    3

    Other Names for Smithsonite

    Synonyms:
    Azurite (of ?)BonamiteCarbonate of ZincSmithsonite (of Beudant)
    French names:
    Zinc carbonaté
    German names:
    CapnitKapnitKohlengalmeiSmithsonitZincspath
    Zinkischer CarbonspatZinkspatZinkspath
    Japanese names:
    菱亜鉛鉱
    Latin names:
    Zincum acido aëro mineralisatum
    Russian names:
    Смитсонит
    Spanish names:
    Smithsonita
    Varieties:
    Cadmian SmithsoniteCobaltoan SmithsoniteCuprian SmithsoniteDry Bone OreHerrerite
    MonheimiteTurkey-Fat Ore

    Other Information

    Fluorescence in UV light:May fluoresce pale green or pale blue.
    Other Information:Soluble in acids with effervescence.
    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
    Industrial Uses:Ore of zinc.

    References for Smithsonite

    Reference List:Bergmann, T. (1780) Opuscula of Tobernus Bergmann: 209.

    Bergmann, T. (1782) Sciagraphia regni mineralis: 144.

    Brongniart, A. (1827): 47 (as Zinc carbonaté).

    Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 354.

    Dana, J.D. (1837) System of Mineralogy, 1st. edition, New Haven: 211.

    Dana J.D. (1844) System of Mineralogy, 2nd. Edition, New York: 263.

    Monheim (1850) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 49: 382.

    Monheim (1851) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 705.

    Dana, J.D. (1854) System of Mineralogy, 4th. Edition, New York: 447.

    Breithaupt, A. (1841) Vollständige Handbuch der Mineralogie Vol. 2: 236 241.

    Tanner (1874) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 30: 141.

    Christomanos (1896) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 123: 62.

    Ortloff (1896) Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Leipzig, Berlin: 19: 214.

    Bergt (1903) Isis: 1: 20.

    Buttgenbach (1906) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 29: 190.

    Doelter, C. (1911) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 1: 443.

    Manasse (1911) Mem. Soc. Tosc.: 27: 76.

    Pilipenko (1915) Bulletin of the Imperial Tomsk University: 763.

    Honess (1918) American Journal of Science: 45: 217.

    Johnsen and Veit (1918) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 265.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1923) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 9. Heidelberg: 117.

    Müller (1924) Ind. Eng. Chem.: 16: 604.

    Headden (1925) American Mineralogist: 10: 18.

    Mountain (1926) Mineralogical Magazine: 21: 51.

    Hintze, Carl (1927) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 3243.

    Palache, C. (1928) American Mineralogist: 13: 321.

    Goldschmidt and Hauptmann (1932) Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen , Berlin. Mathematisch-physikalische Klasse, Nachrichten: 53.

    Mehmet and Valensi (1935) Bull. Soc. chim. France: 2: 1295.

    Schaller and Fairchild (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 894.

    Rose (1939) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 208: 1914.

    Neuhaus (1944) Ber. Freiberger Geol. Ges., no. 20: 39.

    Rose (1948) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 71: 15.

    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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 176-181.

    American Mineralogist (1954): 39: 47.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1981): 156: 233-243.

    Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 652.

    Internet Links for Smithsonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Smithsonite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Smithsonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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