Pristine Zincite twin spear. Olkusz, Poland. Zincite specimens are formed as a by-product of the mining process. 3 inch.

A red and orange Zincite specimen formed as a by-product of the mining process. This is a showy crystal, most are greenish in color, some red/orange. From mine Smelter process at Olkusz, Poland. 3 inch across at 6.1 gram. This is is a pristine specimen with nothing broken.

A finite, limited number of crystals of this extraordinarily beautiful mineral developed when a furnace wall at the smelter fractured in a singular event in the late 70's. As reported by the smelter superintendent, the zincite was formed in a one-time event when a smelter chimney sprang a leak, allowing an excess of oxygen to mix with the fumes inside the smelter. The oxygen that came in through the crack combined with the zinc to form zinc oxide (zincite). Zincite was then deposited in air vents, from which it was later collected. No other crystals will come out.