Provenite

About Sphalerite

(Zn,Fe)S

The main ore of zinc. Pure material is pale, while iron makes it darker, up to opaque black.

Show 11 localities on the map

Photos of Sphalerite

Cluster of dark brown sphalerite crystals with orange-red highlights, up to 3 cm long, on a ridge of limestone matrix from the Elmwood Mine.
Sphalerite · Elmwood Mine (Carthage, Smith County)
Cluster of dark brown sphalerite crystals with orange-red highlights, up to 3 cm long, on a ridge of limestone matrix from the Elmwood Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Domed sphalerite crystal with stepped growth on all sides and a golden dusting of chalcopyrite, from the 2nd Sovetskii Mine, Dalnegorsk.
Sphalerite · 2nd Sovetskii Mine (Partizanskoe deposit)
Domed sphalerite crystal with stepped growth on all sides and a golden dusting of chalcopyrite, from the 2nd Sovetskii Mine, Dalnegorsk.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Brassy chalcopyrite crystals resting on a matrix of gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals from the Commodore Mine, Creede.
Sphalerite · Commodore Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)
Brassy chalcopyrite crystals resting on a matrix of gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals from the Commodore Mine, Creede.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Complete, jet-black, twinned and finely striated sphalerite crystal perched on smaller sphalerites from Naica.
Sphalerite · Naica
Complete, jet-black, twinned and finely striated sphalerite crystal perched on smaller sphalerites from Naica.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Gemmy deep amber sphalerite crystal intergrown with sharp galena crystals from the Bachelor Mine, Creede.
Sphalerite · Bachelor Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)
Gemmy deep amber sphalerite crystal intergrown with sharp galena crystals from the Bachelor Mine, Creede.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Radial flower-like group of sphalerite crystals up to 2.5 cm, with red 'ruby jack' tips, from Dalnegorsk.
Sphalerite · Dalnegorsk
Radial flower-like group of sphalerite crystals up to 2.5 cm, with red 'ruby jack' tips, from Dalnegorsk.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals with high lustre perched on quartz matrix, from the Krushev dol Mine area, Madan.
Sphalerite · Krushev dol Mine
Gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals with high lustre perched on quartz matrix, from the Krushev dol Mine area, Madan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two-sided cabinet specimen of lustrous, twinned and striated black sphalerite crystals to 3 cm with dolomite rhombs on silicified limestone, Joplin field.
Sphalerite · Joplin Field
Two-sided cabinet specimen of lustrous, twinned and striated black sphalerite crystals to 3 cm with dolomite rhombs on silicified limestone, Joplin field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Where Sphalerite is found (11)

Bulgaria

Mexico

Russia

United States

Sphalerite on the same specimen with other minerals

Same specimen Sphalerite with Marcasite at Joplin Field

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show marcasite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Marcasite at Herja Mine

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show marcasite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Marcasite at Olkusz ore district

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show marcasite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite at Cavnic

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite at Huarón Mine (Huarón Mining District)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Galena at Madan ore field

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Galena at Santa Eulalia Mining District

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Galena at Elmwood Mine (Carthage, Smith County)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Chalcopyrite with Sphalerite at Commodore Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)

3 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with chalcopyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Galena with Sphalerite at Commodore Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with galena together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Galena with Sphalerite at Bachelor Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with galena together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Sphalerite at Bachelor Mine (Amethyst vein, Creede)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Galena with Sphalerite at Krushev dol Mine

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with galena together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Sphalerite at Krushev dol Mine

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Chalcopyrite with Sphalerite at 2nd Sovetskii Mine (Partizanskoe deposit)

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with chalcopyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Galena with Sphalerite at Dalnegorsk

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with galena together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Chalcopyrite with Sphalerite at Camp Bird Mine

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with chalcopyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Sphalerite at Camp Bird Mine

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Calcite with Sphalerite at Joplin Field

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with calcite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Chalcopyrite with Sphalerite at Joplin Field

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with chalcopyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Pyrite at French Creek Mines (St. Peters)

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show pyrite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Enargite with Sphalerite at Butte Mining District

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with enargite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Bornite with Sphalerite at Butte Mining District

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with bornite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Dolomite with Sphalerite at Joplin Field

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with dolomite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Siderite at Aggeneys

3 specimen photo(s) from this locality show siderite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Siderite at Neudorf (Harzgerode)

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show siderite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Pyrrhotite at Trepca complex

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show pyrrhotite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Rhodochrosite at Eagle Mine (Gilman)

4 specimen photo(s) from this locality show rhodochrosite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Identity

Also called
Zinc blende; blende
Group
Sphalerite Group
Strunz
2.CB.05a · 2 Sulfides and sulfosalts
IMA status
Grandfathered
Name origin
From Greek sphaleros, 'treacherous' or 'deceiving', because it was easily mistaken for galena; named by Glocker in 1847.
Elements
Zn, Fe, S

Physical properties

Color
Yellow, brown, red-brown, black, green, colorless, rarely light blue
Streak
Pale yellow to brownish white
Luster
Resinous luster
Transparency
Variable
Mohs hardness
3.5–4
Density
3.9–4.2 g/cm³
Cleavage / fracture
Perfect dodecahedral cleavage {110}; fracture uneven
Magnetism / fluorescence
Often fluorescent and triboluminescent (yellow-orange); depends on impurities

Crystallography

Crystal system
Cubic
Space group
F-43m
Typical habit
Tetrahedral and dodecahedral crystals; also granular to massive
Twinning
Spinel-law twins on [111], simple or lamellar
Optical data
Isotropic, n about 2.37-2.43

Formation and use

Formation
Skarns, hydrothermal veins, Mississippi Valley-type, sedimentary-exhalative and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits; iron content generally rises with formation temperature.
Uses
About 95 percent of primary zinc; indium, gallium, germanium and cadmium are recovered as by-products. Red gem material is cut for collectors.

Related minerals

Related minerals
Wurtzitealabanditemarmatite (iron-rich variety)cleiophane (nearly pure variety)
Polymorphs
Wurtzitematraite
Can be confused with
Galena

Sources

  1. SRC-253 · Database
    Sphalerite (mineral entry, zh.mindat.org mirror)Mindat.org · Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
  2. SRC-254 · Database
    Sphalerite Mineral DataBarthelmy, D. · Webmineral.com
  3. SRC-255 · Website
    SphaleriteWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.