Sphalerite

Overview

(Zn,Fe+2)S
Fluorescence: yellow-orange under SW and LW	Not Radioactive	Magnetic: no

Description

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	3.9-4.1 g/cc
Hardness - Mohs	Sphalerite - 3.5-4  10 Diamond 9 Carborundum 8 Topaz 7 Quartz 6 Orthoclase 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite 2 Gypsum 1 Talc
Color	brown, yellow, red, green, black
Streak	brownish yellow to white

Crystal Properties

Property	Value
Crystal structure	isometric - hextetrahedral
Cleavage	perfect
Tenacity	brittle
Fracture	conchoidal
Luster	resinous

Similar Minerals

Dana Number : 02.08.02.01

Class: 02

Group: 02.08

Subgroup: 02.08.02 - sphalerite

Dana Number	Mineral Name	Formula
02.08.02.01	cleiophane	ZnS
02.08.02.01	sphalerite	(Zn,Fe+2)S
02.08.02.04	tiemannite	HgSe
02.08.02.05	coloradoite	HgTe

Nickel-Strunz Number : 02.CB.05a

Group : 02

Subgroup : CB

Nickel-Strunz Number	Mineral Name	Formula
02.CB.05a	cleiophane	ZnS
02.CB.05a	coloradoite	HgTe
02.CB.05a	sphalerite	(Zn,Fe+2)S
02.CB.05a	tiemannite	HgSe

Specimens

Localities

Uses