SMITHSONITE

Botryoidal growth of rich, lemon-yellow smithsonite from a now exhausted locale. The appealing coloration was formerly thought to be caused by the presence of elemental cadmium, though samples have shown that it’s more likely due to inclusions of cadmium sulfides like hawleyite or greenockite. Yellow smithsonite has been found at a few localities worldwide, though I can only think of one or two others that had this rich yellow hue to them. Color aside, my favorite thing about this piece is the smooth rolling luster that goes all across. Front face is all in fantastic shape, there is peripheral damage on the sides, and the specimen is sawed flat on the back.