Smithsonite has been called calamine, along with hemimorphite.

Chemical Formula: ZnCO3
Class: Zinc Carbonates
Hardness: 4-4.5
Coloration: white, blue, green, yellow, brown, pink or colorless.

How to identify it/Unique Characteristics or Properties: Smithsonite comes in a wide variety of colors, and is best known for actually being an apple green instead of the blue-green of the picture above. It can be recognized by a waxy or pearly luster, and broken edges appear almost plastic. Smithsonite has been called calamine, along with hemimorphite.

Where to find it in…

The Northwest: Colorado
Other: Namibia, Australia, Germany, Zambia, Mexico
Past Uses: It used to be used as an ore for zinc. It was also used to make bronze with copper, and in calamine lotion because of its zinc content.
How it was Made: Zinc bearing minerals are altered by weathering, especially in limestone.
Interesting Facts: Smithsonite was named after the founder of American’s Smithsonian Institute.