Here's a very colorful specimen of botryoidal SMITHSONITE in a rich lavender-violet color from the recently closed El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinoloa, Mexico classic locality. Smithsonite's botryoidal surface gives it a nice sculptural dimension, and its pearly to resinous luster is gives it the appearance of melted wax by candlelight. Since the mine closed in 2010, there will be no new material coming onto the market, making pieces that are recycled out of old collections more valuable. I picked this piece out at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, from the stock of a large Mexican wholesale dealer who had put out his remaining material from El Refugio which he had cleaned and prepped for sale.