Smithsonite from this remote location near the old lead mine district of Mfouati really surprised the mineral world as it started to come out after 2012 or so, with some of the best quality specimens, such as this, rivaling Kelly Mine (New Mexico) material for color and translucency. This particular piece has rich and saturated blue color, with just a hint of green, but could EASILY pass for a top grade, lapidary-quality Kelly Mine piece, and those sell by the gram just as carving rough. This has a perfect and undulating surface with gorgeous luster, high translucency, and dimensionality to it. For this size and quality, it is one of the best we have seen out of a large lot of about 500 pieces from summer of 2022 mining. In person, it glows when backlit.