An impressive display of translucent, cadmium (Cd) enriched Smithsonite crystals measuring to 1.3 cm aesthetically stacked upon one another, from the celebrated Tsumeb mine in the Oshikoto Region of Namibia. The modified rhombic Smithsonite crystals are ginger yellow to pale honey developed over colourless-white internal phantoms. The Smithsonite displays faint growth hillocks on the major faces and covers a characteristic matrix of Galena. Of all the various metal-rich varieties of Smithsonite to be found at Tsumeb, I am fairly certain the cadmium-rich variety is the rarest. This is supported by the presence of only nine mineral species at Tsumeb which contain cadmium. A small cabinet specimen of Cadmium enriched Smithsonite display three good sized crystals, each to over 1 cm.
