This specimen features striking blue smithsonite crystals from the El Refugio Mine in Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico. Measuring approximately 61 x 40 x 17 mm and weighing 34 grams, the specimen displays lustrous botryoidal aggregates of smithsonite in a vibrant blue hue—an effect caused by minor copper substitution within the zinc carbonate structure. The silky surface sheen and smooth, undulating crystal growths give the piece a distinct aesthetic appeal, characteristic of the finest smithsonite specimens from northern Mexico. Formerly part of the Bruce Whittaker Collection, it is a superb example of this classic material.
The El Refugio Mine, located in the Choix District of Sinaloa, has long been celebrated for producing some of the world’s most colourful and well-crystallized smithsonite specimens. The locality’s secondary oxidation zones, rich in zinc, lead, and copper, create ideal geochemical conditions for the formation of smithsonite and related carbonates such as hemimorphite and aurichalcite. The mine’s output during the 1970s and 1980s yielded many highly sought-after specimens, notable for their vivid colouration, translucent luster, and fine botryoidal texture.
Smithsonite (ZnCO₃) is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of zinc ore deposits. It was once an important zinc ore and remains a collector favourite due to its pastel colour range—spanning blues, greens, and pinks—caused by trace-element variations. Crystallizing in the trigonal system, smithsonite often develops as botryoidal masses or crystalline crusts rather than distinct individual crystals. Specimens like this one from Choix are prized for their intense colour and glassy surface finish, which enhance both scientific and aesthetic value.
This blue smithsonite from the El Refugio Mine captures the vibrant mineralogy of Mexico’s renowned oxidation-zone deposits. Its exceptional colour, texture, and provenance make it a desirable collector-grade specimen and a testament to the quality of minerals produced from this famous locality during the mid-20th century.
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