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Hemimorphite on matrix — San Giovanni Mine, Bindua, Iglesias, Sardinia

Fine specimen of hemimorphite [Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂ · H₂O] from the historic San Giovanni Mine of Bindua, in the Iglesias mining district (Province of South Sardinia) — one of the classic localities for zinc minerals in Italy and Europe.

The piece displays a rich aggregate of crystals in botryoidal habit, with a finely lustrous globular surface, milk-white in color with delicate sky-blue reflections typical of specimens from this locality. The crystals appear fresh and well-preserved, distributed over a dark rock matrix characteristic of the oxidized levels of the deposit.

Specimen details:

• Mineral: Hemimorphite
• Habit: compact botryoidal aggregates, vitreous to pearly luster
• Color: opalescent white with blue hues on the most translucent crystals
• Matrix: dark rock (oxidation zone)
• Size: approx. 10 × 5 cm (Paleofox metric scale visible in photos)
• Condition: excellent, crystals intact

Locality: San Giovanni Mine · Bindua · Iglesias · Province of South Sardinia · Sardinia · Italy

The San Giovanni Mine is historically associated with zinc and lead extraction in the Iglesiente metallogenic district, active since Roman times and a major protagonist of Sardinian industrial mining throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The secondary minerals from this locality — including hemimorphite, smithsonite, and cerussite — are highly sought after on the international collector market for their aesthetic quality and the prestige of the provenance.