Smithsonite is a secondary mineral formed in parts of zinc and copper deposits that have been oxidised by the action of air and water. It is one of the calamines and was confirmed as a distinct species of mineral in 1832 and named after James Macie Smithson the British chemist and mineralogist. Smithsonite is grey, white, light green or brown in colour with a glassy lustre. It has the formulae ZnCO3 and a relative hardness of 6. It is an ore of zinc usually found with zinc deposits in limestone beds. Research Smithsonite
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Abbreviations
Rocks & Minerals
Research Smithsonite
