Chalcedony over multi-colored Smithsonite

Photo: The Mineral Gallery, Inc.

Another old classic rarity featuring Chalcedony over multi-colored Smithsonite!

This specimen dates to the late 1890's or early 1900's from the early workings of the Kelly Mine when it was being mined for its Silver and Zinc ores. Beneath the translucent Chalcedony coating, zones of Cadmium Smithsonite can be seen and this ism much rarer than the more common Kelly Mine green which was the main reason the Sherwin Williams Paint Company purchased the nearby Graphic Mine in 1904. They had found a use for all those green Zinc Carbonate rocks discarded by the Silver miners.

From the Kelly Mine, Magdalena District, Socorro Co., New Mexico.


Ex. Col. J. H. Pratt, Paul Tucker Mineral Collections
Original Ward's Natural Science mineral label

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