Sphalerite Mineral Data (2024)

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General Sphalerite Information

Chemical Formula: (Zn,Fe)S Composition: Molecular Weight = 96.98 gm Zinc64.06%Zn Iron2.88%Fe Sulfur33.06%S ______ 100.00% Empirical Formula: Zn_0.95Fe²⁺_0.05S Environment: In sulfide ore veins in all rock classes. IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1847 Locality: Notable localities are Santander, Spain and Joplin, Kansas. Link to&nbspMinDat.org Location Data. Name Origin: From the Greek sphaleros - "misleading." Name Pronunciation: Sphalerite + Pronunciation Synonym: Black Jack False Galena ICSD 60378 Mock Lead Ore Mátraite - densely twinned PDF 5-566 Zinc Blende

Sphalerite Image

Images:

Sphalerite

Comments: Highly lustrous, black, complex sphalerite crystals to 15 mm in size completely covering the top of a sulfide matrix.
Location: Nanisivik mine, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Scale: 6.5 x 7.5 x 1.8 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Images:

Sphalerite Ankerite Dickite

Comments: White, rhombohedral crystals of ankerite and dark gray, metallic sphalerite on beige dickite.
Location: Prego mine, Kladno, Czech Rebublic. Scale: Picture size 2 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Images:

Sphalerite Baumhauerite-2a

Comments: Dark crystal of baumhauerite-2a (same shape as baumhauerite) with olive-green transparent sphalerite crystal on white dolomite.
Location: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: Picture 2 cm tall.
© Walter Gabriel

Sphalerite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions: a = 5.406, Z = 4; V = 157.99 Den(Calc)= 4.08 Crystal System: Isometric - HextetrahedralH-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: F43m X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.123(1), 1.912(0.51), 1.633(0.3), Forms:

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Forms:( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Physical Properties of Sphalerite

Cleavage: {110} Perfect, {110} Perfect, {110} Perfect Color: Brown, Yellow, Red, Green, Black. Density: 3.9 - 4.2, Average = 4.05 Diaphaneity: Translucent to transparent Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern. Habit: Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass. Habit: Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form. Habit: Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix. Hardness: 3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite Luminescence: Fluorescent and triboluminescent, Short UV=yellow-orange, Long UV=yellow-orange. Luster: Resinous - Greasy Streak: brownish white

Optical Properties of Sphalerite

Optical Data: Isotropic, n=2.37-2.43. Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Sphalerite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	18.40
420 nm	18.20
440 nm	18.00
460 nm	17.70
480 nm	17.40
500 nm	17.10
520 nm	16.80
540 nm	16.60
560 nm	16.50
580 nm	16.40
600 nm	16.30
620 nm	16.20
640 nm	16.20
660 nm	16.10
680 nm	16.00
700 nm	15.90

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Sphalerite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	60%	100%	120%	180%	240%	300%	360%	420%	480%	540%
R

Calculated Properties of Sphalerite

Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.85 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Sphalerite =4.08 gm/cc.
Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98 Photoelectric: PE_Sphalerite= 35.10 barns/electron
U=PE_Sphalerite x rElectron Density= 135.25 barns/cc.
Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Sphalerite is Not Radioactive

Sphalerite Classification

Dana Class: 02.08.02.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides (02.08)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1 (02.08.02)Sphalerite Group (Isometric: F4-3m)

02.08.02.01 Sphalerite(Zn,Fe)S F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.02 StilleiteZnSe F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.03 MetacinnabarHgS F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.04 TiemanniteHgSe F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.05 ColoradoiteHgTe F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.06 HawleyiteCdS F43m 4 3m

02.08.02.07 Rudashevskyite!(Fe,Zn)S F43m 4 3m

Strunz Class: 02.CB.05a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf 02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar) 02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc

02.CB.05a HawleyiteCdS F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a ColoradoiteHgTe F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a MetacinnabarHgS F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a Sphalerite(Zn,Fe)S F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a TiemanniteHgSe F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a StilleiteZnSe F43m 4 3m

02.CB.05a Rudashevskyite!(Fe,Zn)S F43m 4 3m

Other Sphalerite Information

References: NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990;www.saint-hilaire.ca) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1) See Also: Links to other databases for Sphalerite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
9 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
10 - GeoScienceWorld
11 - Glendale Community College
12 - Google Images
13 - Google Scholar
14 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
15 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
16 - HyperPhysics
17 - MinDAT
18 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
19 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
20 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
21 - Online Mineral Museum
22 - Philatelic Mineralogy
23 - QUT Mineral Atlas
24 - Ruff.Info
25 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
26 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
27 - WWW-MINCRYST
28 - YupRocks
29 - theimage

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