Smithsonite was named after Jamos Smithson (1754-1829). He used his legacy to establish the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
Pure Smithsonite is a white to gray mineral with attractive color due to containing trace impurities. It is used as decorative materials or as a treasure.
Although it may be yellow, brown or pink, the translucent blue-green variety is the best.
It can be polished with the diamond method. Smithsonite is a carbonate mineral. Like all carbonate minerals, Smithsonite is characterized by low hardness and foaming in acid.
Basic properties and characteristics of Smithsonite
1) Mohs hardness: 4-5.
2) Density: 4.30-4.45g/cm.
3) Optical property: inhomogeneous body, uniaxial crystal, negative optical property; They are often heterogeneous aggregates.
4) Refractive index: 1.621~1.849.
5) Gloss: glass luster.
6) Color: green, blue, yellow, light yellow, pink, brown, gray-white, etc.
7) Transparency: translucent to slightly transparent.
8) Chemical property: foaming in case of hydrochloric acid.
Chemical composition
The chemical formula of Smithsonite is ZnCO3, which can contain a small amount of Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, and even trace amounts of Co, In, Pb, Cd, etc.
A small number of other metal elements replace zinc in the composition.
The color changes with the replacement metal: copper replacement is green to green blue, cobalt replacement is pink, and replacement is yellow.
Form
The Smithsonite belongs to the trigonal crystal system, which is a roughly rhombic crystal, and can have rhombohedron, compound trigonometry and hexagonal prism.
Crystals are rare, usually in the form of dense lumps, stalactites, ribbons, kidneys or granular aggregates.
Physical characteristics
The color is often white or gray or even colorless, but some can be yellow, brown, light blue, pink, green and blue-green.
Smithsonite has below physical characteristics:
- with glassy luster to sub glassy luster
- semi-transparent to sub translucent
- often heterogeneous aggregate
- uniaxial negative light
- refractive index N= 1.849, N=1.621
- birefringence is 0.225 ～ 0.228,
- the aggregate is not measurable
- dispersion is 0030
- there is no polychrome
- UV fluorescence is no maximum
- the color varies depending on the origin.
For example:
- It produced in Japan are blue,
- It produced in England are rose red,
- It produced in Georgia are brown
- It produced in Spain are blue and white, and so on.
Smithsonite has no characteristic absorption spectrum and bubbles when it meets hydrochloric acid.
- Three groups of rhombohedrons are completely cleaved,
- With multilamellar to uneven fracture,
- Mohs hardness of 4-5,
- Density of 4.30 ± 0.15 g/cm,
- Brittle.
Origin of Smithsonite
Smithsonite mainly occurs in the oxidation zone of lead-zinc sulfide deposits and is a secondary mineral.
It is formed by the metasomatism of the original zinc minerals, especially sphalerite, and can coexist with hemimorphite, galena, limonite, etc.
As a secondary mineral of zinc, Smithsonite has been found in many areas and can be used as decorative material, but its production area is relatively small.
The most famous producing areas of translucent blue-green Smithsonite are Russia, England, Australia, Greece, Colorado in the United States, Kelisha in Magdalena, New Mexico, Chumeb in Namibia, Santander in Spain, etc.
Others, such as Japan, Algeria, Sardinia, and Italy;
The Smithsonite in China is mainly produced in the oxidation zone of Lanping lead-zinc sulfide deposit in Yunnan Province.
It is bell-shaped, and its interior is nearly concentric. The texture is composed of white, yellow, yellow-green and other layers of different colors.
Other places such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Hunan, etc.
Key Points for Identification
There are many colors of Smithsonite, which should be identified in terms of color, shape, size and texture.
Pure white and bright yellow are the best, light green and brown yellow are the second, and black is the worst. The kidney-shaped, bell-shaped and grape-shaped ones are more meaningful than the main, shell-shaped and block-shaped ones, and have certain ornamental and collection values.
Generally speaking, the larger the block, the better, and the stronger the texture. It is an important raw material of zinc ore when it accumulates in large quantities, and its zinc content is 2-3 times higher than that of primary ore.
Smithsonite Healing property
Smithsonite belongs to the tripartite crystal system, which can dredge the blocked energy, remove the inertia that makes people make mistakes repeatedly, and bring the power of clarity and high consciousness.
The energy of Smithsonite is gentle and diversified, which can help us deal with trauma in various situations.
In addition, Smithsonite is also a traditional Chinese medicine used to help maintain eyesight and maintain eye health.
The energy of Smithsonite is quiet, gentle and charming, which makes people happy to be close.
It is said that it can help people solve difficulties in life. For people who are usually nervous and have too much work pressure, it is the best gem and has a good calming effect.
On the other hand, it is said that this gem can give people flexible means of communication, enable you to be good at dealing with complex interpersonal relationships, improve embarrassing situations, and enhance leadership, so as to provide people with a safe and harmonious life in the hearts of the adherents of Smithsonite.
It can also be used as a psychological placebo, especially for those who have suffered miserably.
After experiencing an unhappy childhood, some people will feel difficult to get out of the shadow and suffer from the torment of the dream demon from time to time, while some people feel more like they are redundant or unloved.
It is said that Smithsonite can cure the psychological shadow left by childhood trauma and alleviate the pain caused by humiliation and abuse.
However, when used to heal emotional trauma. It may require additional crystal assistance.
Spiritually, its adherents believe that Smithsonite can adjust chakra acupoints and enhance supernatural ability, while placing it on the top chakra can connect with the spiritual world.
According to them, holding Smithsonite in hand can make people more acutely aware of the existence of other life forms during the channeling ceremony.
Physiologically, Smithsonite is of great benefit to the immune system.
It is said that if it is placed under the pillow or on the bedside table, it can form a protective net at the four corners of the bed.
The effect is excellent if Smithsonite is tied to the thymus with bloodstone or green chalcedony.
As an excellent crystal that helps to regenerate, Smithsonite,it can also cure infertility.
Smithsonite can treat immune system disorders, sinusitis, dyspepsia, osteoporosis and drunkenness and help restore the elasticity of blood vessel walls and muscles.
Different Types of Smithsonite Healing properties
According to the theory of special color crystallography, in addition to general functions, other colors of Smithsonite have unique properties:
Turquoise Smithsonite: it is said that it can bring universal love to people, can be used to treat emotional and other trauma, mildly eliminate anger, fear and pain, enhance friendship, and help people realize their aspirations.
In addition, in the hearts of crystal fans, it is also a lucky stone to help divide euphemism and lactation.
Light blue purple Smithsonite: In the crystal trance, this kind of crystal, which vibrates gently and can remove negative energy, is a superior gem for mind and Soul Salvation.
It can urge people to return to the world and find the energy that did not fall on you with reincarnation.
Not only that, it is said that it can also heal the wounds caused by reincarnation, guide the direction of soul healing, help people contact higher levels of consciousness, and give appropriate protection.
Physiologically, it can relieve neuralgia and inflammation.
Pink purple Smithsonite: The vibration frequency of this crystal can always give a very comfortable feeling, which is suitable for placing in or near the heart.
In addition to the benefits to the heart, it is said that it can also enable people to bravely face the experience of being abandoned and injured lips, rebuild their trust and security in others, and feel the love and support from the universe.
In addition, it can relieve pain, speed up the rehabilitation process of patients, and have a certain control effect on drug abuse, alcohol and other bad habits.
Yellow Smithsonite:
- Balance the sun wheel.
- Heal old wounds.
- Eliminate sad feelings.
- Promote digestion and absorption of nutrients.
- Treat skin diseases.
How to use Smithsonite
People should carry it with them or put it in an appropriate position, such as on the head, to align the wheel holes.
Ordinary users can wear Smithsonite to expand the energy in their hearts, so that they can face others sincerely and no longer close themselves to bring trust;
It can bring calm and comfortable in the face of strangers and improve my good feelings.
Pink helps us understand the truth and essence of love and take responsibility for our emotions.
The blue-green color helps us have a higher ability of self-examination, improves the skin, lymph glands and thyroid gland problems, and reduces the burden on the body.
When to Use Smithsonite
- When entering unfamiliar environments and groups
- Accelerate body detoxification
- Eliminate fear of others
- Eliminate the victim’s complex or change its mode
How to Clean Smithsonite
Purification mode
√: fragrance, smoke, sound, crystal hole
×:Sea salt method and flowing water method will corrode minerals, and sunlight law will cause discoloration
Conclusion:
Smithsonite is a zinc carbonate mineral, which belongs to the calcite group in mineralogy and mainly occurs in the oxidation zone of zinc-bearing sulfide minerals.
It belongs to the Trihedral crystal system and is rhombohedral crystal, but it is very rare.
They are usually grape-shaped, bell-shaped and block-shaped aggregates.
Most smithsonite crystals are translucent, with Glass luster to pearl luster. The minerals in different places show different colors due to their different trace elements;
For example:
- New Mexico produces blue and blue-green crystals;
- The Namibian Chumeb produces yellowish, pink and green crystals;
- Italy produces bright yellow smithsonite stalactites;
- There are honey yellow blocks in Yunnan and Guangxi, China.
At the same time, due to different origins, under ultraviolet light, there will be different color fluorescence reactions.
The Smithsonite can also be used as carving material in addition to being polished into arc-shaped and faceted gemstones.