Smithsonite, also known as zinc spar, is the mineral form of zinc carbonate (ZnCO3). Historically, smithsonite was identified with hemimorphite before it was realized that they were two different minerals. The two minerals are very similar in appearance and the term calamine has been used for both, leading to some confusion. The distinct mineral smithsonite was named in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant in honor of Englishchemist and mineralogistJames Smithson (c. 1765–1829), who first identified the mineral in 1802.[3][5]
Smithsonite is a variably colored trigonal mineral which only rarely is found in well formed crystals. The typical habit is as earthy botryoidal masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 and a specific gravity of 4.4 to 4.5.
^ abAnthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Smithsonite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
^"Smithsonite at the National Museum of Natural History". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
Bibliographyedit
Tom Hughes, Suzanne Liebetrau, and Gloria Staebler, eds. (2010). Smithsonite: Think Zinc! Denver, CO: Lithographie ISBN978-0-9790998-6-1.
Ewing, Heather (2007). The Lost World of James Smithson: Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian. London and New York: Bloomsbury ISBN978-1-59691-029-4
External linksedit
James Smithson's 1802 Calamine Paper
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smithsonite.
February 15, 2024
smithsonite, also, known, zinc, spar, mineral, form, zinc, carbonate, znco3, historically, smithsonite, identified, with, hemimorphite, before, realized, that, they, were, different, minerals, minerals, very, similar, appearance, term, calamine, been, used, bo. Smithsonite also known as zinc spar is the mineral form of zinc carbonate ZnCO3 Historically smithsonite was identified with hemimorphite before it was realized that they were two different minerals The two minerals are very similar in appearance and the term calamine has been used for both leading to some confusion The distinct mineral smithsonite was named in 1832 by Francois Sulpice Beudant in honor of English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson c 1765 1829 who first identified the mineral in 1802 3 5 SmithsoniteGeneralCategoryCarbonate mineralFormula repeating unit ZnCO3IMA symbolSmt 1 Strunz classification5 AB 05Crystal systemTrigonalCrystal classHexagonal scalenohedral 3 m H M symbol 3 2 m Space groupR3 cUnit cella 4 6526 7 c 15 0257 22 A Z 6IdentificationColorWhite grey yellow green to apple green blue pink purple bluish grey and brownCrystal habitUncommon as crystals typically botryoidal reniform spherulitic stalactitic earthy compact massiveTwinningNone observedCleavagePerfect on 1011 FractureUneven sub conchoidalTenacityBrittleMohs scale hardness4 5LusterVitreous may be pearlyStreakWhiteDiaphaneityTranslucentSpecific gravity4 4 4 5Optical propertiesUniaxial Refractive indexnw 1 842 1 850 ne 1 619 1 623Birefringenced 0 223 0 227Ultraviolet fluorescenceMay fluoresce pale green or pale blue under UVReferences 2 3 4 Smithsonite is a variably colored trigonal mineral which only rarely is found in well formed crystals The typical habit is as earthy botryoidal masses It has a Mohs hardness of 4 5 and a specific gravity of 4 4 to 4 5 Smithsonite occurs as a secondary mineral in the weathering or oxidation zone of zinc bearing ore deposits It sometimes occurs as replacement bodies in carbonate rocks and as such may constitute zinc ore It commonly occurs in association with hemimorphite willemite hydrozincite cerussite malachite azurite aurichalcite and anglesite It forms two limited solid solution series with substitution of manganese leading to rhodochrosite and with iron leading to siderite 4 A variety rich in cadmium which gives it a bright yellow color is sometimes called turkey fat ore 2 Contents 1 Gallery 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksGallery edit nbsp Crystals of smithsonite Ojuela Mine Mapimi Mun de Mapimi Durango Mexico nbsp Crystals of pink cobaltoan smithsonite on matrix nbsp Apple green cuprian smithsonite crystals A second generation of drusy smithsonite was deposited in the crevasses between the larger growth nbsp Crystals of slightly pink cobaltoan smithsonite Tsumeb 6 8 4 6 3 7 cm nbsp Blue smithsonite from the Kelly Mine in New MexicoSee also editList of minerals List of minerals named after peopleReferences edit Warr L N 2021 IMA CNMNC approved mineral symbols Mineralogical Magazine 85 3 291 320 Bibcode 2021MinM 85 291W doi 10 1180 mgm 2021 43 S2CID 235729616 a b Smithsonite Smithsonite mineral information and data from Mindat a b Smithsonite mineral data from Webmineral a b Anthony John W Bideaux Richard A Bladh Kenneth W Nichols Monte C 2005 Smithsonite PDF Handbook of Mineralogy Mineral Data Publishing Retrieved 14 March 2022 Smithsonite at the National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 8 December 2010 Bibliography editTom Hughes Suzanne Liebetrau and Gloria Staebler eds 2010 Smithsonite Think Zinc Denver CO Lithographie ISBN 978 0 9790998 6 1 Ewing Heather 2007 The Lost World of James Smithson Science Revolution and the Birth of the Smithsonian London and New York Bloomsbury ISBN 978 1 59691 029 4External links editJames Smithson s 1802 Calamine Paper nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smithsonite Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smithsonite amp oldid 1196875933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
