mineral
Botryoidal Smithsonite
Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, pale white to cream color, vitreous to pearly luster, and trigonal crystal system with a botryoidal habit.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, pale white to cream color, vitreous to pearly luster, and trigonal crystal system with a botryoidal habit.
Formation & geological history
Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of zinc ore deposits, often precipitating from groundwaters.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as an ore of zinc and prized by mineral collectors for its unique grape-like globular formations.
Geological facts
Smithsonite was named in honor of James Smithson, the British chemist and mineralogist whose bequest funded the founding of the Smithsonian Institution.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive bubble-like clusters and effervescence in dilute hydrochloric acid; found globally in zinc-rich mining regions.
