Smithsonite Mineral Data

Smithsonite Mineral Data +

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General Smithsonite Information

Chemical Formula:

ZnCO3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 125.40 gm

Zinc 52.15 % Zn 64.90 % ZnO

Carbon 9.58 % C 35.10 % CO₂

Oxygen 38.28 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Zn(CO₃)

Environment:

Commonly found as an oxidation product of Zn-bearing ores.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1832

Locality:

Mendips at Derbyshire, UK. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after James Smithson (1765-1829), English mineralogist who financed the founding of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, USA.

Synonym:

Calamine

Galmei

ICSD 100679

PDF 8-449

Zinc spar

Smithsonite Image

Images:

Smithsonite Creedite

Comments: Purple transparent crystals of creedite to 6 mm on matrix of creamy botryoidal crystalline smithsonite.
Location: Level 8 San Antonio mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. Scale: 7 x 3.5 x 2 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Images:

Smithsonite

Comments: Twinned crystals of smithsonite on matrix.
Location: Ojuela mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Smithsonite Murdochite

Comments: Dark metallic micro crystals of murdochite on pale blue-gray smithsonite crystal covered matrix.
Location: Silver Hill Mine group, Silver Hill, Waterman District, Waterman Mts, Pima Co., Arizona, USA. Scale: 5x4x2 cm.
© John Betts - Fine Minerals

Images:

Smithsonite

Comments: Yellow, cadmian-bearing smithsonite crystalline aggregate.
Location: Rush Mine in Marion County, Arkansas, USA. Scale: 6.5 x 11 cm.
© Kevin Ward

Smithsonite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:3.22974

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.653, c = 15.028, Z = 6; V = 281.77 Den(Calc)= 4.43

Crystal System:

Trigonal - Hexagonal ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (3 2/m) Space Group: R 3c

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.75(1), 3.55(0.5), 1.703(0.45),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 0 2] [ 1 1 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Graf D L , American Mineralogist , 46 (1961) p.1283-1316, Crystallographic tables for the rhombohedral carbonates

Physical Properties of Smithsonite

Cleavage:

[1011] Perfect, [1011] Perfect, 1011 Perfect

Color:

Grayish white, Dark gray, Green, Blue, Yellow.

Density:

4.4 - 4.5, Average = 4.45

Diaphaniety:

Subtransparent to translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Botryoidal - "Grape-like" rounded forms (e.g.. malachite).

Habit:

Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).

Habit:

Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite).

Hardness:

4.5 - Between Fluorite and Apatite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Smithsonite

Dichroism (e):

colorless.

Dichroism (w):

colorless.

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.062 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.057 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1665,KPDmeas= 0.1657,KC= 0.1766

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.625, w=1.85, bire=0.2250.

Calculated Properties of Smithsonite

Electron Density:

r_electron=4.24 gm/cc
note: r_Smithsonite=4.43 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.02261
Boson Index = 0.97739

Photoelectric:

PE_Smithsonite= 26.17 barns/electron
U=PE_Smithsonite x r_electron= 110.94 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Smithsonite is Not Radioactive

Smithsonite Classification

Dana Class:

14.1.1.6 (14)Anhydrous Carbonates

(14.1)with Simple Formula A+ CO3

(14.1.1)Calcite Group (Trigonal: R3¯c)

14.1.1.1 Calcite CaCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.2 Magnesite MgCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.3 Siderite FeCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.4 Rhodochrosite MnCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.5 Sphaerocobaltite CoCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.6 Smithsonite ZnCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.7 Otavite CdCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

14.1.1.8 Gaspeite (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO3 R 3c 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

V/B.02-60 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/B - Waterfree carbonates [CO3]2- without unfamiliar anions

V/B.02 - Calcite group

V/B.02-10 Vaterite CaCO3 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.02-20 Calcite CaCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-30 Magnesite MgCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-40 Siderite FeCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-50 Rhodochrosite MnCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-60 Smithsonite ZnCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-70 Sphaerocobaltite CoCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-80 Gaspeite (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO3 R 3c 3 2/m

V/B.02-90 Otavite CdCO3 R 3c 3 2/m

Other Smithsonite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Smithsonite Specimen Label here :

Smithsonite

ZnCO3
Dana No: 14.1.1.6 Strunz No: V/B.02-60
Locality:

Notes: