Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
smithsonite

Chemical Group:    carbonate

Chemical Formula:    ZnCO₃

Color:  white, grayish, greenish, brownish white, green, blue, brown 

Streak:  white

Hardness:  5.5            Specific Gravity:  4.30 to 4.45

Luster:  vitreous to pearly

Cleavage:  3 directions (rhombohedral)

Crystal Forms and Habits:  Hexagonal system (rhombohedral)
     commonly botryoidal of stalactitic

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  zinc ore

Occurrences:  Kelly, New Mexico 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low         when inhaled- low

Additional Information:  Also known as calamine