Smithsonite

This quite magnificent shell of bubbly, botryoidal creamy Smithsonite is from the mines in the Sounion area of the Lavrion District, at the very southern tip of the Attica Peninsula.  This most ancient of mining regions overlooks the Aegean Sea and the spectacular Temple of Poseidon on the headland at Cape Sounion.  This large cabinet specimen is composed from a 6.5 cm diameter mound of yellowish-cream and buttermilk-cream Smithsonite in large drusy botryoidal hemispheres to 2 cm diameter.   Their surfaces are slightly roughened by the texture of micro-crystal terminations which give a beautiful silky lustre.  Surrounding the front half of this mound is a sinusoidal apron of similar buttermilk Smithsonite, with the appearance of chalcedony.  The entire mass is hollow, the underside revealing an inner concave pitted pale pink shell, mimicking the surface of a prior matrix now naturally dissolved and long since removed.  Without doubt this is a great Sounion Smithsonite, one which will make a marvellous addition to any collection from this historic mining district.