Aurichalcite is a soft carbonate mineral usually found as a secondary mineral of zinc and copper deposits that often presents as druzy crusts or aggregates of prismatic crystals. Aurichalcite has a color range of bluish greens and a monoclinic crystal system with pearly lustre. Minerals with similar chemistry to Aurichalcite include rosasite and zincian malachite.
Chemical formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Hardness: 1-2
Smithsonite is zinc carbonate, a secondary mineral of zinc ore deposits, usually found in botryoidal masses. It can be found in a rainbow of colors caused by partial replacement of zinc by other minerals such as copper in the case of green smithsonite and cobalt in pink smithsonite. A member of the calcite group of minerals, smithsonite has a trigonal crystal system.
Chemical composition: ZnCO3
Hardness: 4-4.5
