Origins of Colour of Smithsonite from Yunnan, China

Smithsonite exhibits an extensive range of colours in nature. The internal features, spectral characteristic, and trace elements several coloured smithsonites (e.g., white, blue, blue-green, yellow, orange, pink) from Lanping District, Yunnan Province, China, were analysed the relationship between smithsonite colour and/or impurities was discussed this research. presence iron manganese closely associated with yellow colour. Yellow greenockite grains scattered throughout parts smithsonites, ranging size sub-microscopic to 15 µm, efficiently changed orange or “turkey fat” (a bright variety resembling turkey fat botryoidal form) yellow. Pink due ions. main features blue blue-green samples small interwoven acicular aurichalcite inclusions alternating layers aurichalcite–hemimorphite. Different proportions hole (CO3)− radicals, copper ions (nano-sized Cu-rich inclusions), created green coloration variations smithsonite. blue–green change mainly caused by hemimorphite, detected a Raman test chemical composition test.