Smithsonite is usually found as bluish green or green botryoidally masses or soft layers, which are polished and used as an ornamental stone (sometimes called bunkmate). It may also be colored pink by cobalt, or yellow by cadmium. Crystals may also be found, but are faceted for the collector only.

Colorless crystals in Namibia and Zambia; blue-green masses in the USA, Spain, and Greece; yellow in the USA and Sardinia.

Sinhalite is named after sinhala, which is the Sanskrit name for Sri Lanka.