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Sphalerite

Big Photo

Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Sphalerite Photos (1664)
Formula:
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)S
System:IsometricColour:Yellow, light to dark ...
Lustre:Adamantine, ResinousHardness:3½ - 4
Name:From Greek "sphaleros", treacherous, an allusion to the ease with which dark varieties were mistaken for galena, but yielded no lead.


Sphalerite Group.

Sphalerite, also known as Blende or Zinc Blende, is the major ore of Zinc. When pure (with little or no Iron) it forms clear crystals, usually red (known as Ruby Blende), but as Iron content increases it forms dark, opaque metallic crystals (known as Marmatite).

Classification of Sphalerite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.05a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.2.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.4.4

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
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Physical Properties of Sphalerite

Lustre:Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Yellow, light to dark brown, black, red-brown, colourless, light blue.
Streak:Pale yellow to brown.
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=208 - 224 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect {011}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.9 - 4.1 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.096 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sphalerite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:F4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 5.406Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 157.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Twinning:{111}
Crystal Atlas:
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Sphalerite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.13 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.33 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.46 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.53 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Sphalerite no.162 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Sphalerite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: nα = 2.369
Birefringence:May show strain induced birefringence
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 2.369 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Sphalerite

Formula:
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)S
Idealised Formula:
ZnS
Essential elements:S, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Fe, S, Zn
Common Impurities:Mn,Cd,Hg,In,Tl,Ga,Ge,Sb,Sn,Pb,Ag

Relationship of Sphalerite to other Species

Related to:
  • Sphalerite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    2.CB.05aColoradoite
    HgTe
    2.CB.05aHawleyite
    CdS
    2.CB.05aMetacinnabar
    HgS
    2.CB.05cPolhemusite
    (Zn,Hg)S
    2.CB.05bSakuraiite
    (Cu,Zn,Fe)
     
    3
    		(In,Sn)S
     
    4
    2.CB.05aStilleite
    ZnSe
    2.CB.05aTiemannite
    HgSe
    2.CB.05UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn
    Cu
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    3
    		Zn
     
    5
    		S
     
    10
    2.CB.05aRudashevskyite
    (Fe,Zn)S
    2.CB.10aChalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    2.CB.10aEskebornite
    CuFeSe
     
    2
    2.CB.10aGallite
    CuGaS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bHaycockite
    Cu
     
    4
    		Fe
     
    5
    		S
     
    8
    2.CB.10aLenaite
    AgFeS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bMooihoekite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10bPutoranite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10aRoquesite
    CuInS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bTalnakhite
    Cu
     
    9
    		(Fe,Ni)
     
    8
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10aLaforêtite
    AgInS
     
    2
    2.CB.15aČernýite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aFerrokësterite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aHocartite
    Ag
     
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aIdaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    6
    2.CB.15aKësterite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Zn,Fe)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aKuramite
    Cu
     
    3
    		SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15bMohite
    Cu
     
    2
    		SnS
     
    3
    2.CB.15aPirquitasite
    Ag
     
    2
    		ZnSnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aStannite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15cStannoidite
    Cu
    +
    6
    		Cu
    2+
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Zn)
     
    3
    		Sn
     
    2
    		S
     
    12
    2.CB.15aVelikite
    (Cu,Hg)
     
    11
    		Sn
     
    4
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.15cUM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn
    Cu
     
    8
    		(Fe,Zn)
     
    3
    		Ge
     
    2
    		S
     
    12
    		 (?)
    2.CB.20Chatkalite
    Cu
     
    6
    		FeSn
     
    2
    		S
     
    8
    2.CB.20Mawsonite
    Cu
     
    6
    		Fe
     
    2
    		SnS
     
    8
    2.CB.30Colusite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(As,Sn,Sb)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Germanite
    Cu
     
    13
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    2
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.30Germanocolusite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(Ge,As)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Nekrasovite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(Sn,As,Sb)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Stibiocolusite
    Cu
     
    13
    		V
     
    4
    		(Sb,Sn,As)
     
    3
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.30Ovamboite
    Cu
     
    20
    		(Fe,Cu,Zn)
     
    6
    		W
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Maikainite
    Cu
     
    20
    		(Fe,Cu)
     
    6
    		Mo
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.35aHemusite
    Cu
     
    6
    		SnMoS
     
    8
    2.CB.35aKiddcreekite
    Cu
     
    6
    		SnWS
     
    8
    2.CB.35aPolkovicite
    (Fe,Pb)
     
    3
    		(Ge,Fe)
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4
    2.CB.35aRenierite
    (Cu,Zn)
     
    11
    		(Ge,As)
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    4
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.35aVinciennite
    Cu
    +
    7
    		Cu
    2+
    3
    		Fe
    2+
    2
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		Sn(As,Sb)S
     
    16
    2.CB.35aMorozeviczite
    (Pb,Fe)
     
    3
    		Ge
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4
    2.CB.35bCatamarcaite
    Cu
     
    6
    		GeWS
     
    8
    2.CB.40Lautite
    CuAsS
    2.CB.45Cadmoselite
    CdSe
    2.CB.45Greenockite
    CdS
    2.CB.45Wurtzite
    (Zn,Fe)S
    2.CB.45Rambergite
    MnS
    2.CB.55aCubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.55bIsocubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.60Picotpaulite
    TlFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.60Raguinite
    TlFeS
     
    2
    2.CB.65Argentopyrite
    AgFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.65Sternbergite
    AgFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.70Sulvanite
    Cu
     
    3
    		VS
     
    4
    2.CB.75Vulcanite
    CuTe
    2.CB.80Empressite
    AgTe
    2.CB.85Muthmannite
    AuAgTe
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    3.4.1Niningerite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)S
    3.4.2Oldhamite
    (Ca,Mg)S
    3.4.3Mátraite
    ZnS
    3.4.5Wurtzite
    (Zn,Fe)S
    3.4.6Stilleite
    ZnSe
    3.4.7Greenockite
    CdS
    3.4.8Hawleyite
    CdS
    3.4.9Cadmoselite
    CdSe

    Other Names for Sphalerite

    Synonyms:
    Black JackBlackjack ZincBrunckiteFalse GalenaGarnet Blende
    Granat-BlendeMarasmolitePseudogalenaRuby BlendeRuby Zinc
    Wild LeadZinc Blende
    Other Languages:
    Bosnian (Latin Script):Sfalerit
    Catalan:Esfalerita
    Czech:Sfalerit
    Dutch:Zinkblende
    Finnish:Sinkkivälke
    French:Sphalérite
    German:Sphalerit
    Blende
    Brunckit
    Honigblende
    Marasmolit
    Zinkblende
    Hebrew:ספלריט
    Hungarian:Szfalerit
    Italian:Sfalerite
    Japanese:閃亜鉛鉱
    Latvian:Sfalerīts
    Lithuanian:Sfaleritas
    Low Saxon:Sphalerit
    Norwegian (Bokmål):Sinkblende
    Norwegian (Nynorsk):Sinkblende
    Persian:بلندروی
    Polish:Sfaleryt
    Portuguese:Blenda
    Romanian:Blendă
    Russian:Сфалерит
    Simplified Chinese:閃鋅礦
    Slovak:Sfalerit
    Spanish:Blenda
    Brunckita
    Marasmolita
    Sphalerita
    Swedish:Zinkblände
    Ukrainian:Сфалерит
    Varieties:
    CleiophaneGem BlendeMarmatiteMátraitePrzibramite (of Huot)

    Other Information

    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Sphalerite

    Reference List:Agricola (1546): 465.

    Wallerius (1747): 248.

    Bergmann (1782).

    Glocker (1847): 17.

    Headden, William Parker (1906), Mineralogic notes, III, phosphorescent zinc blendes: Colorado Sci. Soc. Proc.: 8: 167-182.

    Brown, J.S. (1936) Supergene sphalerite, galena, and willemite at Balmat, NY. Economic Geology: 31: 331-354.

    Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 210-215.

    Smith. F.G. (1955) Structure of zinc-sulfide minerals. American Mineralogist: 40: 658-675.

    Rigault G. - (1956) Gallio e Indio nella blenda. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma pp. 43-78.

    Fleet, M.E. (1975a) Thermodynamic properties of (Zn,Fe)S solid solutions at 850%C. American Mineralogist: 60: 466-470.

    Fleet, M.E. (1977b) Structural transformations in natural ZnS. American Mineralogist: 62: 540-546.

    Fleet, M.E. (1977c) The birefringence-structural state relation in natural zinc sulfides and its application to the schalenblende from Pribram. Canadian Mineralogist: 15: 303-308.

    Schaefer, S.C. (1978) Electrochemical determination of the Gibbs energy of formation of sphalerite (ZnS). U.S. Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation 8301, 16 pp.

    Acta Crystallographica (1980): A36: 482.

    Augustithis, S.S. and Vgenopoulos, A. (1982) On the hawleyite-sphalerite-wurtzite-galena paragenesis from Ragada, Komotini, (Rhodope) North Greece. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits: 2: 413-417.

    Schaefer, S.C. and Gokeen, N.A. (1982) Electrochemical determination of the thermodynamic properties of sphalerite, ZnS (beta). High Temperature Science: 15: 225-237.

    Deore, S. and Navrotsky, A. (2006) Oxide melt solution calorimetry of sulfides: Enthalpy of formation of sphalerite, galena, greenockite, and hawleyite. American Mineralogist: 91: 400-403.

    Internet Links for Sphalerite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Sphalerite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Sphalerite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Sphalerite

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