Kaolinite after smithsonite, Broken Hill

Mineral Matters #460

Broken Hill is very well-known for its smithsonite specimens. Usually colourless or white, you can also get blue and green. Specimens often contain “rice-grain” crystals, or botryoidal groups.

Occasionally, you can find ex-smithsonites like this one. It is a complete replacement of smithsonite by creamy white kaolinite. There are also some sharp olive-green chlorargyrite crystals here and there.

Below: Kaolinite after smithsonite with chlorargyrite (Bromian), Kintore Open Cut, South Mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales. Width of view 6mm. Click on the image for a higher resolution version.