Sphalerite

Sphalerite

Description

An important zinc ore commonly called zinc blende. Sphalerite is composed of zinc sulfide. The ore may contain massive transparent, yellow, green, red or brown zinc sulfide crystals with a resinous luster. Gem-quality sphalerite crystals are mined in Mexico (Sonora), and Spain (Santander). The ore is mined in Poland, Belgium, North Africa and the U.S. (Mississippi River valley).

Synonyms and Related Terms

blackjack; black-jack; blende; zinc blende; mock lead; false galena; Zinkblende (Deut.); Sphalerit (Deut., Ned); esfalerita (Esp.); esfalerite (Port.); staleryt (Pol.); sfaleriet (Ned.)

Raman

Other Properties

Soluble in hydrochloric acid. Crystal system = isometric Cleavage is perfect in six directions to from dodecahedron.

Fracture = conchoidal. Streak is yellow or light brown. Luster = adamantine Some specimens are highly fluorescent.

Composition	ZnS
Mohs Hardness	3.5 - 4.0
Density	3.9-4.1

Additional Information

Mineralogy Database: Sphalerite

Additional Images

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  Sphalerite

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  Sphalerite

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• R.F.Symmes, T.T.Harding, Paul Taylor, Rocks, Fossils and Gems, DK Publishing, Inc., New York City, 1997

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "sphalerite" Encyclopædia Britannica [Accessed December 4, 2001].

• C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphalerite (Accessed Sept. 17, 2005)

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998