Smithsonite, El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 3CG-A1T
Date: Apr 18th, 2026
Locality: El Refugio Mine, Choix, Choix Municipality, Sinaloa, Mexico (See on Mindat)
Size: 29 x 26 x 40 mm
Weight: 34 g

Description:
The El Refugio Mine, located in Choix, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, is a notable source of beautiful specimens of the zinc carbonate mineral smithsonite. These specimens are often very colorful and display well under normal light. Some of this material also shows a deep, intense fluorescent response under shortwave UV, usually in colors of blue and/or pink.

This piece features white to blue/green, botryoidal masses of smithsonite on a red/brown matrix on limonitic gossan. The smithsonite shows a soft blue, fluorescent response under shortwave UV. It is not fluorescent under longwave UV (365 nm).

Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2020.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Smithsonite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue